BAGUIO CITY, Jan. 5 (PIA) — President Benigno Aquino III commended the Philippine National Police (PNP) for its efforts in reducing the casualties during the New Year celebrations.
“Congratulations and please pass the JOB WELL DONE to all. HAPPY NEW YEAR.”, the President’s text message to PNP Chief Director General Ricardo Marquez read.
Aquino, who celebrated New Year here in the City of Pines, stressed the effective law enforcement campaign of the PNP that resulted in the “all-time low” casualty record during the New Year.
In his text message to the Chief PNP, President Aquino cited the report of Health Secretary Janette Garin on New Year’s Day that showed only 384 medical emergency cases recorded by DOH. Garin added in her report that DOH hospitals performed only nine amputations and noted zero cases of firecracker ingestion.
This was 57 percent lower than the five-year average and 54% lower than the recorded cases last year, according to Aquino.
The Health Secretary attributed the steep reduction in firecracker-related injuries to effective law enforcement by the PNP against prohibited firecrackers.
The President earlier directed the PNP to strictly enforce the nationwide ban on illegal firecrackers and indiscriminate firing of guns during the holiday season.
In the Cordillera region, the DOH-CAR reported lower firecracker-related injuries with 49 this year compared to 70 cases last year. From Dec. 21 2015 to January 4, 2016, the DOH recorded 18 cases in Abra, 14 in Apayao, 9 in Baguio City, 6 in Benguet, and one each for Ifugao and Mountain Province.
The DOH also reported no recorded death due to indiscriminate firing and no amputation and firecracker ingestion in the region./RMC- PIA CAR
