There should be no finger pointing at the number of  fire cracker victims during the celebration of the Christmas season.

In an radio interview over a local station Dr. Julia Villanueva, cluster head of the non-comunicable diseases of the Department of Health region 6  said   blame should not be pointed at a particular agency for the number of victims.

According to her, the Action Paputok Injury Reduction (APIR) and  Iwas Paputok was participated in by several agencies and each did their particular role or function.

In the case of the Department of Health, who took care of the advocacy campaign, together with other groups, Villanueva said preparations for the campaign were started as early as November when it held several meetings and conferences.  Copies of the posters were also distributed to agencies, media establishments and other groups so that the public would know about the campaign.

Meanwhile records from the   Police Regional Office 6 (PRO6) show that as of January 1, there were 10 incidents of stray bullets and 54 fire-cracker related incidents. 

Compared to 2011 figures of 83 firecracker-related incidents and 15 incidents of stray bullets, this would show a reduction of 34.94%  in firecracker incidents and 33.33% for incidents due to stray bullets.

Records also show that Negros Occidental posted the highest number of fire-cracker incidents , followed by Guimaras, Iloilo City and Bacolod City with 6 incidents, Iloilo province with five, Antique 3 and Aklan one. 

On the other hand the Bureau of Fire Protection 6 (BFP6) reports that as of December 30, there was one fire in a residential house in Barangay Catilingban, Molo caused by a lighted watusi.

Although there were four fire incidents monitored last January 1, but the BFP said this is still subject to investigation and could not yet say whether this is due to firecrackers.*PIA