By Xander Ledesma
The use of the banned “boga,” an improvised cannon made from PVC pipes and denatured alcohol, caused the majority of the 13 firecracker-related injuries recorded in Antique during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Information Officer Irene Duldoco said Wednesday that the injuries were monitored under Code White Alert surveillance from December 24, 2024, to January 1, 2025. Most of the cases involved males who either lit the firecrackers themselves or were accidentally injured.
“Of the 13 cases recorded, seven were due to ‘boga,’ while four were caused by ‘kamara,’ another prohibited firecracker,” Duldoco said.
Additional incidents involved two injuries from whistle bombs, which are also banned, and one from “kwitis” (skyrocket), a regulated firecracker.
Among the victims, a 14-year-old boy from Laua-an remains hospitalized after sustaining injuries from “kamara” on Christmas Day. The remaining victims, including a 16-year-old from San Jose de Buenavista who was hurt by “boga” on December 24, were treated and discharged.
Duldoco advised parents to caution children against handling unexploded firecrackers and emphasized the need for vigilance. The IPHO will continue its surveillance of firecracker-related incidents until January 5.
This year’s total is a decrease from the 19 firecracker-related injuries recorded in the same period last year.