Iloilo City logged three fireworks-related injuries from December 21, 2024 to December 28, 2024.

One of the victims is a nine-year-old boy in Zone 11, Barangay Calaparan, Arevalo, Iloilo City.

According to the child’s aunt, a firecracker identified as a “kamara” was hurled at her nephew, alias “Nonoy,” by another child whose identity was undetermined. The incident happened on December 27, 2024.

The incident resulted in the injury of alias Nonoy’s right foot.

“Parang nasunog. Pero parang fresh pa yung dugo. Mga isang oras pa bago namin nalaman kasi hindi siya nagsabi dahil natakot siguro ang bata na yun ang nangyari sa kanya,” alias “Beng,” the aunt, said.

The boy was taken to the hospital.

The barangay chairman of Calaparan said that he directed barangay tanods (village watchmen) to warn residents, especially children, of prohibited firecrackers and “boga” (improvised cannon made of polyvinyl chloride or PVC,  a synthetic plastic that is used in a variety of applications).

“Pinaikot ko ang aking mga tanod, mga barangay official na nakatuka sa kanyang zona na pagsabihan ang mga nagpapaputok ng boga, kamara kasi ipinagbabawal nating magpaputok ngayon,” Calaparan Barangay Chairman Renante Tubola said.

An eight-year-old boy in Barangay Sooc, Arevalo was also injured in the hand after he was hit by a “triangle,” a type of firecracker.

Another child, about nine years old, a resident of Barangay Quintin Salas, Jaro also suffered injuries because of homemade firecracker.

Meanwhile, the Province of Iloilo logged 18 fireworks-related injuries from December 21, 2024 to December 30, 2024.

Twelve of the victims are ages one to 10 years old; many of them sustained eye injuries.

Playing with the prohibited “boga” tops the cause of the injuries.

Miagao town has the greatest number of incidents at four.

“Sa mga nanay at tatay, bantayan talaga natin ang ating mga anak sa paggamit ng paputok at boga upang mailayo sa aksidente,” said Dr. Rodney Labis, head of the Health Service Delivery Division of Iloilo.

On December 30, 2024, over 400 confiscated “boga” were destroyed using sledgehammers and a compactor.

Policemen seized 426 of the prohibited items.

Water was poured over 1,700 firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.

According to the Police Regional Office (PRO) 6, firecracker-related injuries in Western Visayas reached at least 41 from December 1, 2024 to 30, 2024.

The authorities have also reminded holders of firearms that discharge of their firearm to make noise during the New Year revelry is illegal.

“Let us resort to other safer means just like mga torotot at yung mga traditional ways natin noon gaya ng kaldero at balde na kinakalampag. Okay lang yun. Nag-iingay naman tayo,” PRO 6 Director, Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky said.

At downtown Iloilo City, noisemakers such as “torotot” (trumpet or party horn) are already on display, but sales are not that vigorous yet, according to George Estrellan, one of the vendors.

The largest torotot costs P120 per piece, while the smallest costs P20.

“Safety ang mga kabataan at malayo sa disgrasya. Konti lang. Mga bata lang ang bumibili,” Estrellan said.

According to policemen, they back the use of party horns to avert additional fireworks-related injuries in the region.