With firecracker ban, Davao City records only one injury

While the Department of Health is busy tallying the number of firecracker explosion victims all over the country, Davao City has recorded only one firecracker-related injury since December 21. Officials and doctors credit this safety record to the city’s strict implementation of its firecracker ban since 2001. Just like other hospitals in the country, the Davao Medical Center is in “code white" – the highest alert level for medical institutions – although they expect to receive no firecracker-related cases. Jean Mustafa, Davao Medical Center’s nurse in charge, said they are on alert for other emergency medical cases. Bam Garcia of Davao City’s public information office said that for eight consecutive years since the ban was implemented, the city registered negligible cases of firecracker-related injuries. Duterte's will He believed the political will of Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and the local police made the firecracker ban effective. The people were initially defiant but they had no choice but to follow the law, he said. “Pag may nagpapaputok, inaaresto talaga at kinakasuhan (Those who dare violate the ordinance were arrested and cases were filed)," Garcia said. He was referring to Ordinance 060-02, which prohibits the manufacture, sale, distribution, possession or use of firecrackers or pyrotechnic devices and such other similar explosives in Davao City. Before Christmas Day, police arrested a firecracker vendor who got his supplies from Tagum or Cotabato City. “Hindi naman ganun kadami at kalakas ang binibenta niya, retail lang actually, pero inaresto at sinampahan ng kaso (His wares were not that many and powerful, but he was still arrested and charged)," he added. Garcia further said that the Maranaos, who used to sell firecrackers in the city, decided to vend other items because they don’t want to offend Duterte. “The Muslim community here respects the mayor very much, ayaw nilang sila ang mapagbibintangang nagbebenta (they don’t want to be accused as firecracker vendors)," he said. Garcia said Davao City residents are now used to greeting the New Year with loud music, blowing the horns of their vehicles, and making other noise instead of lighting firecrackers. Iwas Paputok update Although no fatalities have been reported, as of the morning of December 31, some 235 people sustained injuries nationwide due to New Year revelry. Of the number, 230 were caused by firecracker blasts. Eighty-four percent of the victims suffered burns, three percent of the victims suffered amputations while 13 percent sustained eye injuries. The DOH also received a report on watusi (dancing firecracker) ingestion, which causes poisoning, while two others were struck by stray bullets. The figure is 34 percent or 123 cases lower than last year's casulaties and 51 percent or 241 cases lower than the average of daily cumulative cases from 2004 to 2008, according to the health department’s Iwas Paputok 2009 surveillance update. - JV, GMANews.TV