ILOILO – Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. assured that all 13 district hospitals, including the Iloilo Provincial Hospital in Barangay Rumbang, Pototan, are ready to cater to all emergency cases, particularly fireworks-related injuries during the New Year celebrations.
“Tanan nga hospital nagabantay sina,” Defensor said when asked about the readiness of district hospitals this holiday season.
All provincial government-run hospitals have been placed on “code white” alert, where medical personnel are “on-call status for immediate mobilization.”
Defensor explained that hospitals have been preparing for a possible increase in the number of fireworks-related injuries, and personnel are no longer taking days off to ensure enough manpower.
Here are the 13 district hospitals managed by the provincial government:
* Aleosan District Hospital in Barangay Bancal, Alimodian
* Barotac Viejo District Hospital in Barangay San Lucas, Barotac Viejo
* Dr. Ricardo S. Provido Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Dalid, Calinog
* Don Valerio Palmares Sr. Memorial District Hospital on Alfelor Street, Passi City
* Dr. Ricardo Y. Ladrido Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Poblacion, Ilawod, Lambunao
* Ramon D. Duremdes District Hospital in Barangay Ilaya 1st, Dumangas
* Federico Roman Tirador Sr. Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Jibolo, Janiuay
* Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Tingui-an, Balasan
* Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Barangay Pungtod, Cabatuan
* Rep. Pedro G. Trono Memorial District Hospital on Garriel Street, Guimbal
* San Joaquin Mother and Child Hospital in San Joaquin
* Sara District Hospital in Barangay Anoring, Sara
The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), headed by retired police Colonel Cornelio Salinas, is also monitoring the situation.
Defensor stressed that the PDRRMO is not the frontline in responding to emergency cases but the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) of each local government unit (LGU).
Defensor Favors Ban on Firecrackers
Defensor is in favor of the proposal of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary Benjamin “Benjur” Abalos Jr., urging LGUs to pass ordinances that will ban firecracker use and individual fireworks displays in their localities.
During his term as a representative of the province’s 3rd District, Defensor filed a bill entitled “Firecracker Development Law,” which intends to regulate the use of firecrackers, especially their accessibility to children and persons under intoxicating liquor, as they are often the patients of firecracker-related injuries.
“Ngaa gin-obra ko ang bill ko sang una? Kay kon tan-awon kada New Year, ano ang headline? Is it the fireworks? No, the emergency room. Can you imagine? Ano ang balita nga ginapangita naton kon New Year? Emergency room, it’s not really the celebration,” Defensor said.
He explained that if fireworks and firecrackers are regulated, the money spent by the government on health facilities will be reduced, and at the same time, the burden of health facilities will be reduced every December.
The governor also agrees with the idea of organizing community fireworks headed by LGUs for its constituents.
But he admitted that it will be difficult to implement because each household has its way of celebrating the holiday season, the reason being that some prefer to stay at home instead.
Abalos pushed for supervised fireworks displays in common spaces like municipal town halls and other designated areas.
“Ako ay nananawagan na sana ay magkaroon ng lokal na ordinansa [banning fireworks display in communities]. Anyway kaya namang i-celebrate ang Bagong Taon nang maayos [kahit walang paputok],” Abalos said.
He added that the said measure can help decrease fireworks-related accidents and untoward incidents during the holiday season.
In 2017, then President Rodrigo Duterte signed Executive Order 28, banning fireworks in households or places of residence nationwide, stressing only community fireworks displays supervised by licensed individuals are allowed.
Abalos urged LGUs to replicate the same measure, which is still being implemented by other local governments such as Davao City and Quezon City.
The objective of the ban is to minimize firecracker-related injuries in the coming New Year’s Eve celebration.
“Nananawagan ako sana ang mga LGU magpasa ng firecracker ban gaya ng ginawa ng Davao at Quezon City,” he stressed.
He continued: “Ibig sabihin ‘yung mga pumuputok. Kasi nakita naman natin ‘yung mga daliri napuputol, i-ban na natin totally ‘yun“.
During this year’s New Year revelries, the Department of Health tallied 211 injuries related to fireworks, which were 30 percent lower than the five-year average of 300./PN
