Firecracker injuries down in W. Visayas; ‘boga’ leads

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Fourteen people sustained firecracker-related injuries in Western Visayas during the 2025 holiday season, according to the Department of Health–Western Visayas (DOH-6).

The cases, recorded from Dec. 21, 2025, to Jan. 1, 2026, represented a 78% decrease compared to the same period in 2024.

DOH-6 said the cases were reported by three sentinel hospitals under its monitoring in the region.

Data showed that four of the injured were ages 1 to 9, another four were 10 to 19, two were 30 to 39, and one case each involved individuals aged 20 to 29, 40 to 49, 50 to 59, and 60 and older.

The highest number of injuries was recorded on Jan. 1, with five cases. No injuries were logged on Dec. 31.

Two cases each were reported on Dec. 27, 28, and 30, while one case each occurred on Dec. 22, 23, and 29.

The leading cause of injury was the boga, an improvised cannon, with five cases. Boga use is explicitly banned during the holidays.

Other firecrackers linked to injuries included kwitis (2 cases), and one case each involving a triangle, whistle bomb, baby rocket, sky rocket, and an unidentified type.

Of the 14 patients, 13 were treated and discharged, while one remained hospitalized as of reporting time.

In one of the earliest cases in Iloilo province, a 5-year-old boy in Passi City suffered an eye injury on Dec. 19 after being hit in the face by a boga explosion.

Authorities said the child had been playing outside his home with his 10-year-old brother and a 7-year-old neighbor when the boga, reportedly handled by the older sibling, suddenly exploded.

A similar case occurred two days later in Cabatuan, Iloilo.

A 9-year-old girl was injured on Dec. 21 when a boga she was holding failed to ignite properly.

She reportedly looked into the cannon, which then suddenly exploded, burning and injuring her right eye. She was later treated and discharged.