IN BLAZE OF FIREWORKS
[PHOTO -
Residents of Barangay Pogo Grande in Dagupan City watch as firecrackers explode
on the street as part of their traditional New Year's Day celebration. CESAR RAMIREZ]
MANILA, JANUARY 2, 2012 (STAR) By
Mayen Jaymalin - Perhaps times are hard, or maybe the warnings are working. The
Department of Health (DOH) recorded fewer firecracker-related injuries during
the New Year's Eve revelry, with government hospitals nationwide reporting a 13
percent decline in cases compared to last year.
Health Secretary Enrique Ona said as of 6 a.m. yesterday, there were 476
cases of firecracker-related injuries, or 13 percent lower than the 546 cases
recorded last year.
"But I am not happy with the 13 percent rate because we were hoping it would
be much lower and also because of the fact that we still recorded 18 cases of
stray bullet incidents," Ona said.
He said treatment for those who suffered firecracker-related injuries cost
the national and local governments roughly P15 million.
"This is only the cost of medical treatment, not to mention the economic
impact on those who lost fingers and limbs," Ona said.
Based on reports of 50 government hospitals nationwide, a majority of the
cases recorded, or 66 percent, came from the Metro Manila, followed Calabarzon
and the Ilocos Region.
Ona said victims aged 10 and younger made up 37 percent of the total cases.
He said illegal fireworks caused 185 or 41 percent of the cases, with the
cheap "piccolo" responsible for 81 percent of the total reported injuries.
"Judging from the data, it seems that our campaign encouraging parents to
restrict their children from using firecrackers was not effective since a
majority of the patients were young children below 10 years," Ona said.
Considering that majority of the injuries were due to the use of legal
firecrackers, Ona said it is apparent that there is a need to look into calls to
implement a total ban on the use of firecrackers in the coming year.
He said use of firecrackers should be strictly prohibited among children
below 12 years.
Ona further expressed concern about the stray bullet incidents.
"While we have recorded 22 percent lower cases, stray bullet incidence is
still worrisome so we have to rethink rules to control indiscriminate firing of
guns," he said.
Ona said the DOH and other concerned government agencies would soon be
holding a summit to discuss other strategies to further reduce incidence of
firecracker-related injuries in the country.
Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag said the DOH would continue monitoring
cases of firecracker-related injuries until Jan. 5, while monitoring of tetanus
cases resulting from firecracker wounds would start today until Jan. 21.
Tayag said the DOH is still confident that they would be able to post a 30
percent reduction in the cases of firecracker-related injuries when they have
collated all the data.
He said the DOH has posted zero casualties from the sentinel sites, but there
could be fatalities from other hospitals.
Tayag said the compact disc (CD) containing recorded sounds of fireworks,
which the DOH released as part of its effort to reduce firecracker use, posted
50,000 downloads online.
"Although 50,000 downloaded our CD, we still have to check if they did not
use fireworks after that to determine if the campaign worked," he said.
Malacañang welcomed initial reports by the DOH that this year's New Year
celebration was "generally peaceful" with a decline in firecracker-related
injuries.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte attributed this to the
government's aggressive campaign against the use of dangerous firecrackers.
Valte expressed a similar sentiment, adding that despite this positive news,
there will be no letup in the government's drive against the use of
firecrackers.
"While the New Year celebration was generally peaceful, we will continue the
aggressive campaign for the reduction of fireworks-related injuries. Better to
celebrate the New Year with hope than spending it in the hospital," she said.
President Aquino supported the DOH's annual campaign against firecrackers.
Metro Manila victims
The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) reported that stray bullets
and firecracker explosions injured 168 people during the past two weeks in Metro
Manila.
NCRPO chief Director Alan Purisima said firecracker explosions injured 157
while stray bullets hit 11 people from Dec. 16 to Jan. 1.
Purisima said the casualty figure is much lower than that recorded for the
same period last year.
The NCRPO also arrested 14 people involved in the sale of illegal
firecrackers and nine others for indiscriminate firing of firearms.
"Majority of those arrested for indiscriminate firing of guns were policemen
who would be subjected to summary dismissal proceedings," said Purisima.
Superintendent Ferdinand del Rosario, Northern Police District spokesman,
said a stray bullet hit two-year-old Kirby Orbillo in the head during the New
Year's Eve revelry in Malabon.
Orbillo, a resident of Letre Road in Barangay Tonsuya, was watching
television inside their house at around 11:25 p.m. when he was hit by the
bullet. The victim is now confined at the Malabon Community Hospital and was
already declared out of danger.
Del Rosario said Jeffrey Miranda, 19, of Barangay 176 in Bagong Silang,
Caloocan City, was also hit by a stray bullet in the left foot outside their
house at around 12:20 a.m.
Another victim, Jay Roldan Lumabog, 31, of Barangay 178 in Camarin, Caloocan
City, was hit by a stray bullet in the left foot.
Del Rosario said at least 34 firecracker victims were recorded in Caloocan,
Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela City during the New Year's Eve revelry.
Eastern Police District (EPD) director Chief Superintendent Francisco Manalo
said 35 people were hurt by firecracker explosions during the New Year's Eve
revelry in his jurisdiction.
In Central Luzon, Chief Superintendent Edgar Ladao, regional police director,
said 154 people were injured due to firecrackers and stray bullets.
Ladao said most of the firecracker victims were teenagers who suffered
injuries on their fingers.
The report said Pampanga accounted for the biggest number of firecracker
victims with 72; Tarlac had 41; Bulacan, nine; Bataan, eight; Angeles City,
seven; Olongapo City, seven; Nueva Ecija, three; Aurora, three; and Olongapo
City, two.
Dr. Policarpio Manuel, director of the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, said
only 14 patients were treated for firecracker injuries, compared to 20 last
year.
DOH officials in Bicol reported that firecracker explosions injured 32 people
in the region.
In Cagayan Valley, 29 firecracker victims were reported and a stray bullet
injured one resident.
Stray bullet hits pregnant woman
A 31-year-old pregnant woman survived after a stray bullet hit her during the
New Year's Eve revelry in Ilocos Norte.
Reports said the victim, Marcelina Ignacio, who is six months' pregnant, was
hit in the thigh by the stray bullet as she was relaxing in her porch.
Police said Ignacio was immediately rushed to the Laoag City General
Hospital. The caliber .45 bullet exited through her thigh.
Stray bullets injured three residents in separate places in Ilocos Sur.
The victims were identified as Adrian Javier of Vigan City, Alvin Villegas of
Bantay town, and Franklin Espejo of Sta. Catalina town.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo ordered paraffin and
ballistics tests on policemen and their firearms reportedly used in
indiscriminate firing during the revelry.
Robredo did not indicate the exact number of erring policemen but said he has
their names, ranks and places of assignment based on the text messages sent to
him from the field.
"We will subject to paraffin test some police officers who reportedly fired
their guns during the New Year's Eve revelry. We will reveal their names once we
have determined they have violated the ban against indiscriminate firing," he
said.
He said the Crime Laboratory of the Philippine National Police (PNP) has the
equipment and capability to determine which firearms discharged certain bullets.
On reports that there were 18 people who were victims of stray bullets,
Robredo directed PNP chief Director General Nicanor Bartolome to order his field
investigators to gather the bullet slugs recovered from the victims and subject
them to ballistics test to determine, if possible, from whose firearms these
were fired.
Robredo said this year's New Year revelry was generally peaceful and safer
compared to the previous year's celebration, with lesser number of fire
incidents, firecracker injuries and victims of stray bullets.
Sales of fireworks drops
The Philippine Pyrotechnics Manufacturers and Dealers Association Inc.
(PPMDAI) said sales of pyrotechnics products declined before New Year's Eve
compared to 2010 due to low production, economic difficulties brought by
calamities, and the proliferation of smuggled products.
PPMDAI officials said the scare tactics of the DOH to prevent people from
using firecrackers contributed to the low sales of fireworks.
Celso Cruz, president emeritus of the PPMDAI, said many people also bought
imported fireworks, adding to the drop in sales of locally manufactured
fireworks.
Vimmie Erese, incumbent president of PPMDAI, sent a letter to the Department
of Trade and Industry (DTI) last Dec. 21 asking for the suspension of the
product standard certification on pyrotechnics.
Erese's letter cited three reasons why the DTI's Bureau of Product Standards
should stop the certification process.
One, the provisions for product certification do not conform to Republic Act
7183 or the firecracker law, Erese said.
The DTI inspection team did not conduct comprehensive testing on how the
products were manufactured, and instead only relied on product performance to
favor unscrupulous importers, Erese added.
Many traditional local manufacturers are not yet in a position to provide a
Quality Management System Manual required for product certification, Erese said.
Tony Dinglasan, another member of PPMDAI, said the supply of fireworks was
around 30 to 40 percent short.
Erese said the high cost of chemicals used in the manufacture of pyrotechnics
products led some registered manufacturers to stop production.
Some stakeholders in the local pyrotechnics industry alleged that a syndicate
composed of businessmen involved in smuggling pyrotechnics products has coerced
some government officials to make life harder for small-time manufacturers.-
With Non Alquitran, Pete, Laude, Dino Balabo, Charlie
Lagasca, Raymund Catindig, Celso Amo, Eva Visperas, Cesar Ramirez, Teddy Molina
FROM INQUIRER.NET
World rings in New Year in blaze of fireworks
Agence France-Presse 9:26 am | Sunday, January 1st, 2012
LONDON – The world rang in the New Year on Sunday with a string of
spectacular firework displays watched by millions but overshadowed by fears at
what the economic crisis in Europe could bring in 2012.
[PHOTO - Visitors watch a dazzling fireworks display at Quezon City
memorial Circle on Friday night, a day before New Year's Eve. RAFFY LERMA]
Sydney and Hong Kong set the standard with glittering extravaganzas, while
London geared up for a firework display over the River Thames to usher in a year
in which it will host the Olympic Games.
Tens of thousands of revellers were expected to descend on Scotland's capital
Edinburgh to attend its Hogmanay street party. The city will see around 80,000
party-goers welcome in 2012 before erupting into a mass rendition of "Auld Lang
Syne".
But in other European cities the eurozone crisis loomed large despite the
pyrotechnics.
In a New Year's address, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano delivered a
stark message calling on the nation to make sacrifices to "prevent the financial
collapse of Italy".
In Madrid, many wanted to forget their country's financial woes for the
night, gathering in the Puerta del Sol — the square that became a focal point
for the "indignant" protest movement.
"Today is a day to forget the crisis," said Luis Zorrilla, a 46-year-old
teacher as he celebrated, adding that in the New Year state employees like he
and his wife would have to "cope with a difficult situation".
Earlier, Sydney kicked off the celebrations. On the stroke of midnight, the
harbour exploded in a blaze of colour and light that drew more than 1.5 million
people to crowded foreshores and city landmarks.
Shapes of clouds and hearts floated above Australia's biggest city, while
glittering lights cascaded off the focal point of the display, the Sydney
Harbour Bridge, and fireworks launched from barges and rooftops exploded
overhead.
"Every year we make sure our celebrations are bigger and better than the one
before," Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
Two hours later there were celebrations in Tokyo as the clock struck midnight
with balloons released, fireworks set off and the Tokyo Tower lighting up in
blue.
It was then Hong Kong's turn in the limelight with the city's harbour lit up
by a barrage of fireworks fired from several of its iconic buildings, delighting
partygoers crammed on to the waterfront and in pleasure boats.
Russia's Far Eastern regions of Chukotka, Kamchatka and Magadan, eight hours
ahead of Moscow, became the first parts of the vast country to see in the New
Year.
Russian state news agencies reported that among the first revellers in 2012
were border guards on Ratmanov island in the Bering Strait that lies just four
kilometres from US territory across the international dateline.
In Moscow, thousands gathered in Red Square for another massive firework
display that sent rockets 140 metres (400 feet) into the midnight sky.
But the sale of all alcohol was banned in a bid to prevent the revelry
getting out of hand.
And the mood was less festive in Russia's second city of Saint Petersburg,
where last-minute gift shoppers worried about the economic hard times ahead.
"I expect that things will be worse next year, especially from the economic
point of view. I fear that the next year is going to be very hard," said Galina
Fedorchenko, 59.
As the clock moved through the timezones, celebrations in Dubai centred on
the Burj Dubai skyscraper, the world's tallest manmade structure, with a
pyrotechnics display even more extravagant than last year's.
In Berlin another spectacular display lit up the night sky with partying at
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate while in Paris people flocked to the Champs-Elysees.
In the heart of Vienna the New Year was rung in by the great bell of Saint
Stephen's Cathedral, followed by the strains of the Blue Danube Waltz.
In Amsterdam, revellers watched the first "kiss" between two giant inflatable
puppets representing a Dutch boy and girl, which "walked" towards each other as
the seconds ticked down to 2012.
In the Paris area, the purchase of petrol in cans was banned in a bid to
prevent a wave of car burnings that occurs annually in some quarters, while
10,000 police were mobilised.
In Rio, two million white-clad party-goers — Brazilians and foreign tourists
— were expected to ring in the New Year on Copacabana beach, watching a
spectacular "green" fireworks extravaganza.
And more than a million revellers were expected to flock to New York's Times
Square where pop diva Lady Gaga and tenor Placido Domingo are among the
star-studded lineup, and the traditional crystal ball drops at the stroke of
midnight.
Mounted officers, bomb-sniffing dogs and police patrol boats were part of a
massive police deployment to ensure the party passes off without a hitch.
New Zealand was among the first places to see in the New Year but heavy rain
over most of the country put a damper on parties, with two major celebrations in
the North Island cancelled due to the weather.
In Japan, still suffering the effects of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami
that triggered a massive radiation leak from a nuclear power plant, families
gathered for trips to shrines to mark the New Year.
But nuclear evacuees said they had little to celebrate after being relocated
far from home and loved ones.
"I can't say Happy New Year as I don't feel happiness," said Yuji Takahashi,
one of about 1,000 refugees living in a 36-storey Tokyo tower block.
In the Philippines, where killer floods spawned by tropical storm Washi have
swept away whole villages in the country's south, the normally festive New
Year's Day was also expected to be a sad and sombre occasion.
AT RIZAL PARK, MANILA
[PHOTO - Confetti drops as a reveler blows his paper horn
as Filipinos
welcome the New Year at Manila's Rizal Park on January 1. AP …
Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2011 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
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rights reserved
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HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE [PHNO] WEBSITE
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