27.3 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

8:07 AM

27.3 C
Philippines
Friday, March 29, 2024

8:07 AM

Drop in firecracker incidents in NorMin noted

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Jan. 13 (PIA)–Both the Philippine National Police (PNP)-10 and the Department of Health (DOH)-10 have observed a drop in fireworks-related injuries during Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations.

“Since the start of our ‘Iwas Paputok’ surveillance from December 21 to January 6, we only had six reported injuries from illegal fireworks, legal fireworks, and stray bullets,” DOH-10 head of Non-Communicable Diseases Dr. Tristan Jediah Labitad said.

But the six injuries still saddened the law enforcers.

Labitad said the six cases came from two firecracker injuries and one stray bullet injury from Lanao Del Norte, one firework and one stray bullet injury from Bukidnon, and one firecracker injury in Iligan, with most of the victims were minors.

Despite being a highly urbanized city, Cagayan De Oro reported zero fireworks-related case to the delight of the DOH, PNP and local officials.

Virtual campaigns in the new normal

Working alongside the DOH-10 and other line agencies, the PNP-10 conducted its “Iwas Paputok” campaign virtually, making use of social media and other platforms.

“Our reminders to the public are continuous even before the ‘Iwas Paputok’ campaign. We have a memorandum circular, “OPLAN Ligtas Paskohan”… using social media for  information dissemination, not only for our internal operations but for community engagement as well,” PNP-10 Spokesperson PCapt. Francisco Sabud said.

Sabud attributed the lower case rates to their continued campaign against illegal firework traders, 24/7 police visibility, and seminars on firearms and explosives handling.

For stray bullet cases, he shared that they are assisting and working hand-in-hand with the victims to give them justice and bring the perpetrators to court.

Ten cases were reported in the 2019 surveillance. (VPSB/PIA10)