A father rushes his daughter to a hospital after being hit with a stray bullet following the raucous celebration to welcome the New Year Wednesday Jan. 1, 2014, in Manila. The sheer recalcitrance of traders, among others, contributed to the shocking rise in the number of fireworks-related New Year’s Eve injuries this year, which reached 933 cases on Friday, health authorities said. AP FILE PHOTO
Ahead of New Year festivities, Malacañang on Sunday reminded the public to be more careful in using firecrackers and reiterated its call to welcome 2016 in a safe and peaceful manner.
Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma encouraged Filipinos to use “safe alternatives” in noisemaking, such as musical instruments, house supplies, and street parties.
READ: PNP records 16 firecracker, gun-related incidents
“Ilang araw bago natin ipagdiwang ang pagsapit ng Bagong Taon, patuloy ang panawagan ng pamahalaan sa lahat ng ating mga mamamayan na makiisa sa pag-iwas sa paggamit ng makapaminsalang paputok at salubungin ang taong 2016 nang ligtas at malayo sa ano mang kapahamakan,” Coloma said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.
Coloma said parents should be more vigilant in looking after their children to prevent firecracker-related injuries amid the New Year revelry.
READ: Firecracker and gun-related incidents rise ahead of New Year
“Patuloy ang pakikipagtulungan ng Department of Health (DOH) sa iba pang ahensya ng pamahalaan tulad ng DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government), DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) at ang Pambansang Pulisya upang mapigilan pa ang pagbebenta ng iligal na paputok at mabawasan ang maaaring maging biktima nito, at maipamulat sa mga magulang ang panganib na dulot ng mga paputok sa buhay ng kanilang mga anak,” Coloma said.
While saying that the various government agencies are coordinating with one another to ensure public safety, Coloma admitted that a lot is still needed to be done to fully educate the public on the dangers of using firecrackers and to significantly reduce annual casualties.
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“Simula noong nakaraang Lunes, Disyembre 21, itinaas na ng DOH sa Code White Alert—ulitin ko lang, ‘Code White’ alert, ang pinakamataas na antas ng alerto ng DOH—ang lahat ng pampublikong pagamutan at pasilidad sa buong bansa upang mabigyan ng agarang tulong ang lahat ng ating mga kababayan na mangangailangan ng tulong medikal sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan at pagpasok ng bagong taon,” Coloma said.
“Dahil nakikita natin na habang nababawasan, malaki pa rin ‘yung bilang ng mga nasusugatan, ‘yung iba nga ay—mayroon pa nga tayong fatalities doon sa pagdiriwang ng Bagong Taon. Lahat po ng hakbang ay isinasagawa na. Pagtulungan po nating maging ligtas ang ating pagdiriwang ng Bagong Taon,” he added.