Official data from City Health Office recorded only 2 cases of firecracker related-injuries out of more than 170,000 population of the City. The same number of injuries was recorded in 2016, a big drop of 83 percent as compared to 12 cases in 2015.

The two reported victims inflicted with minor injuries were residents of Malaybalay City, a 12 year old boy in Barangay 1 and one male senior citizen in Barangay Sumpong. It is noted that ages 5 to 14 years old were among the most affected age group, said City Health Office.

City Health Office (CHO) attributed the success of the “Iwas Paputok” campaign under the effective marching order of President Rodrigo R. Duterte through Executive Order No. 28.

CHO together with the Bureau of Fire and Protection and Philippine National Police of Malaybalay City went to schools to educate the kids about the dangers of using fireworks.

Meanwhile, Malaybalay City fire personnel also conducted daily ‘recoridas’ to support the campaign and aims to promote public safety in general.

In an interview, the 69 year old senior citizen said it’s his tradition to celebrate the New Year to use firecrackers but discouraged others and the young ones to do the same.