The Department of Health (DOH) said Friday that it has recorded a lower number of firecracker-related injuries this year, but fears the number may go up before the New Year.

Dr. Eric Tayag, DOH Epidemiology Center chief, said that a total of 22 firecracker-related injuries were recorded as of December 25.

Tayag said the number is 66 percent lower compared to the firecracker-related incidents recorded by DOH for the past four years.

"Based on the four-year average, there should be at least 66 victims already, but this year there are only 22 victims," the DOH official said.

The official, however, said it was too early to declare 2008 as the most firecracker-safe year. "Some people may be saving for the New Year's eve celebration."

Tayag, meanwhile, advised Metro Manila residents to wait for the firecracker smog to clear before going out to celebrate the New Year.

He said the firecrackers' smog may be deadly for people who have asthma or lung-related illnesses.

Culture of peace

Director Leopoldo Bataoil, Metro Manila police chief, said the Philippine National Police would like to promote a "culture of peace" to Filipino children with the help of the parents.

Bataoil said the police is intensifying its efforts to convince adults to avoid giving gun replicas or any other items that translate to violence to children this Yuletide season.

Instead of toy guns parents and godparents should buy the children books "to promote the culture of peace," he said.

The police official said promoting peace among children will help the government's effort to lessen the number of firecracker-related and indiscriminate firing injuries during the New Year's celebrations.

Bataoil said police units in Metro Manila have started implementing the directive of PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa against deadly firecrackers and other popular noise makers.

Verzosa had ordered police units nationwide to arrest peddlers of "boga," an improvised bazooka made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, which is responsible for at least 71 injuries during last year's New Year's celebrations.

Bataoil said he had instructed police units in Metro Manila to monitor public markets and identified areas where the selling of boga was rampant last year.