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December 30, 2025 | 2:25pm
MPD Juan Luna PCP commander P/Capt. Jeric Salandana leads the inspection and confiscation of illegal firecrackers being sold in Divisoria, Manila on Dec. 29, 2025 as they continue the strict surveillance of illegal firecrackers to ensure the safety of the public.
The STAR / Edd Gumban
MANILA, Philippines — The number of firecracker-related injuries in the week leading up to New Year's Eve declined this year compared to the previous holiday season, the Department of Health said Tuesday, December 30.
But children continue to account for most of those hurt, based on the data shared by the department.
The DOH recorded 140 firecracker-related injuries nationwide from December 21 to 4 a.m. of December 30, based on reports from 62 high-capacity hospitals it is monitoring.
The tally is 23% lower than the 182 cases recorded over the same period last year, according to the department.
DOH data showed that 68% of those injured were 19 years old and below, while 32% were aged 20 and above.
The department also identified the "5-Star" firecracker, “boga,” and unidentified firecrackers as the leading causes of injury among the cases logged.
The DOH said it continues to track cases through its sentinel hospitals — or tertiary hospitals that DOH monitors as it can accommodate several patients — as the New Year approaches.
The number of fire-cracker related injuries almost always spikes during the actual New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31. — Cristina Chi
