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January 3, 2026 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — A sharp rise in fireworks-related injuries or FWRI has been reported by the Department of Health (DOH), with cases more than doubling as late hospital reports continue to come in.
As of Thursday, 235 cases had been logged nationwide since Dec. 21, 2025, but the figure is expected to climb significantly.
“We are seeing a possible increase of 300 cases in the 235 FWRI posted yesterday,” DOH spokesman Albert Domingo said in a radio interview Friday.
The projected increase represents a possible 127.66-percent jump from the earlier count.
Domingo said the rise is largely due to delayed submissions from reporting hospitals. The initial 235 cases were recorded by 62 DOH sentinel hospitals from Dec. 21, 2025 to the early morning of Jan. 1, 2026.
The DOH reiterated its reminder to those injured by fireworks, whether or not they have open wounds, to seek immediate medical attention.
“Proceed to the emergency unit of the nearest hospital and consult a doctor to avoid tetanus,” Domingo said, noting that tetanus vaccination is available for free at government hospitals.
In the Cordillera Administrative Region, health authorities reported 11 new fireworks-related injuries as of 6 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2026, bringing the regional total to 22 since surveillance began on Dec. 21, 2025.
Apayao accounted for seven of the new cases, while Kalinga and Baguio City reported two cases each.
Based on consolidated data, Apayao has the highest number of cases at eight, followed by Kalinga with seven, Baguio City with four, and Abra with three. All patients recorded in the region are male, according to DOH-Cordillera.
Meanwhile, Benguet, Ifugao and Mountain Province have not reported any firecracker-related injuries so far this season, which health officials attributed to stricter safety enforcement and increased public awareness.
Most injuries in the region were caused by boga and kwitis, with four cases each, followed by dynamite with three. Other causes included luces, whistle bomb and 5-star firecrackers with two cases each and pla-pla with one case.
