The Department of Health (DOH) has announced a significant national decrease in fireworks-related injuries during the Christmas season, even as one region reported a perfectly safe celebration.
National Injury Figures Show Decline
As of Friday, December 26, 2025, the DOH recorded 57 fireworks-related injuries across the Philippines. This number represents a substantial 49 percent decrease compared to the same monitoring period in 2024.
The National Capital Region (NCR) reported the highest number of cases with 25 incidents. Other regions across the country saw scattered cases as communities celebrated the holiday.
According to the health department's data, the most affected demographic was males between the ages of 10 and 14 years old. The fireworks most commonly linked to injuries were identified as the 5-Star, Kwitis, Boga, and Triangulo.
Central Visayas Achieves Zero Casualties
In stark contrast to the national figures, the Central Visayas region celebrated Christmas without a single firecracker-related injury. Brigadier General Redrico Maranan, director of the Police Regional Office 7 (PRO-7), confirmed the peaceful assessment.
Maranan credited the zero-casualty record to strict monitoring and a sustained police presence. Authorities deployed approximately 10,000 police officers throughout the region during Christmas, with the same force level planned for the upcoming New Year's celebration.
Proactive measures included pre-holiday inspections. Maranan personally led checks on firecracker vendors in Barangay Babag, Lapu-Lapu City. He reported full vendor compliance with regulations, including securing necessary permits from the police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, and the local government. No prohibited firecrackers were discovered during these operations.
"It’s good that we didn’t see anyone selling prohibited firecrackers," Maranan stated. "Our countrymen here in Region 7 are generally law-abiding, but we will not be complacent. We will continue the conduct of surprise inspections to really see to it that everybody is abiding by the law."
Continued Vigilance for New Year's Eve
In Cebu City, Colonel George Ylanan, chief of the Cebu City Police Office, also reported no injuries. He added that police would coordinate with the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and DOH Region 7 to validate hospital records for a final confirmation.
Despite the positive news from Central Visayas, the DOH issued a nationwide reminder. The agency urged parents and guardians to closely supervise children and avoid using dangerous fireworks. It continues to advocate for attending safe, community-organized pyrotechnic displays instead.
With New Year's Eve celebrations approaching, the DOH and police authorities emphasize the importance of continued public cooperation and precaution to prevent injuries and ensure a safer close to the holiday season.
