DOH reports amputation in Talisay City

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) released a public reminder on the usage of firecrackers ahead of New Year’s celebrations.

NOPPO director, Police Senior Superintendent Rodolfo Castil, Jr., said the provincial police force will be mindful of those noncompliant with Executive Order No. 28, signed earlier this year by President Rodrigo Duterte, which regulates the use of firecrackers and other pyrotechnics.

Castil said those caught violating the order, along with  RA 7183, or the Firecrackers and Pyrotechnics Regulation Act, face hefty fines and possible criminal charges.

The NOPPO chief noted the conduct of community fireworks display inside the firecracker zone or community fireworks display zone shall be under the supervision of a trained person, duly-licensed by the police, as fireworks display operator.

He also encouraged local residents to use noise-making alternatives instead of firecrackers.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) reported two amputations during their fifth day of monitoring firecracker-related injuries nationwide.

One of the victims was identified as a 12-year-old boy from Talisay City, Negros Occidental, who was rushed to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) after sustaining a blast wound from lighting a firecracker, identified as a “Whistle Bomb.”

The DOH reported the boy’s fingers were amputated due to the severity of the blast wound.

They added, as of 6:00 a.m. on December 26, they currently have 44 firecracker-related injuries reported nationwide, 74 percent lower compared to the same period last year./DGB, WDJ