The Ilocos Norte police destroyed a total of 331 pieces of “boga” or improvised cannon, and assorted illegal firecrackers at the Camp Valentin S. Juan in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte on Friday.
These items are estimated to be worth around PHP31,490, lower than last year’s PHP52,690 based on total cost of production.
Police Col. Frederick Obar, Ilocos Norte police director expressed gratitude to all stakeholders who contributed their efforts in ensuring safe celebration of the Yuletide season.
“We have seen the fruit of our effective joint campaign with no major recorded incidents during the celebration,” he said during the press conference at Camp Valentin S. Juan, attended by representatives of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Department of Health, and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
As of 8 a.m. on Friday, Dr. Rickson Balalio, provincial health officer of Ilocos Norte reported a total of 27 firecracker injuries, which include lacerations and minor burns.
“I am happy to announce that in the entire Region 1, we are the lowest and with zero mortality,” he said.
In 2023, the Provincial Health Office recorded 33 firecracker injuries.
Meanwhile, provincial fire marshal Roxanne Annie Parado of the Bureau of Fire Protection said Ilocos Norte achieved zero fire incident caused by firecracker this year.
In 2023, the BFP recorded one firecracker-related blaze in Badoc town which damaged a grocery store. (Leilanie Adriano)
(Source: Philippine News Agency)