Press Release/30 December 2007

Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III today called for the banning of the Piccolo, a small firecracker that is lighted like a matchstick, in the face of the growing number of persons who are being brought to hospitals in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

“Piccolo has caused more injuries than any other firecracker or pyrotechnic device this year, ahead of the New Year’s celebration when more Filipinos are feared to suffer more injuries”, Secretary Duque explained.

According to records of the Department of Health’s National Epidemiology Center (DOH-NEC) from December 21 until today, piccolo has been consistently the number one (22% or 29) cause of all fireworks/firecracker injuries, mostly eye injuries (28% or 8) and blast/burn injuries (72% or 21), among ten years and below (30% or 18). Most of the cases (79% or 23) are from the Metro Manila area.

The DOH is calling on the local government units and the Philippine National Police to support the proposed ban. The health chief also said that the piccolo is considered an illegal firecracker under Republic Act 7183 since it is imported and unregistered, and the number of persons it has injured so far warrants a ban.

RA 7183 [0] is also known as An Act Regulating the Sale, Manufacture, Distribution, & Use of Firecrackers & Other Pyrotechnic Devices.

Previously in 2002, the DOH also pushed for the ban of watusi, a seemingly harmless and legal dancing firecracker popular among children, because it became fatal for several people who swallowed it. This year, there were no reported injuries caused by watusi due to the consistent warnings aired by the DOH.

Last year, boga, a home-made cannon, was banned by the PNP after it caused many eye injuries among New Year revelers.

“This year, like boga, we are seeing many injuries among children aged below ten years caused by piccolo. Hence, we are appealing to parents and caregivers to help us stop the use of this dangerous firecracker”, the health chief concluded.