PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur — Zamboanga del Sur’s Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) noted an increase in firecracker-related injuries recorded during the recent holiday season compared to last year.
IPHO Chief Dr. Anatalio Cagampang Jr. said there were 11 recorded cases in the province from the recent Christmas and New Year’s celebrations compared to the previous record of three cases.
Based on official data, one each was injured on December 24 and 25, both of whom were rushed to the Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center.
On December 31 and January 1, nine cases were reported from Pagadian City and the towns of Tukuran, Dumingag, Molave, and Labangan.
Cagampang said nine of the 11 injuries were caused by piccolos, while one was from a so-called Roman candle and another from a bamboo cannon, locally known as lantaka.
In the entire Zamboanga Peninsula region, the Department of Health recorded a total of 31 cases of firecracker-related injuries.
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