Ronnie Yanuario TACLOBAN CITY — While fireworks typically take the spotlight in safety issues during the holidays, health officials in Eastern Visayas revealed that road accidents and lifestyle diseases were the leading causes of health problems during the New Year celebrations of 2026.
The Department of Health (DOH) disclosed that the region recorded 626 road traffic, and other injuries (RTI), and 264 non-communicable disease (NCD) cases during the holiday period, compared to only 21 firework – related injuries (FWRI). The numbers indicate that road, related incidents were nearly 30 times more common than fireworks injuries.
In its update on January 2, 2026, the DOH stated that the data confirms a long-observed pattern in Eastern Visayas, where the most serious health risks during the holidays are often unrelated to pyrotechnics.
During the same period, the DOH documented 21 cases of FWRI, with eight due to kwitis, eight to unidentified fireworks, and the rest from lantaka or bamboo cannons, fountains, sparklers, whistle bombs and pla-pla.
Health workers noted that while these incidents are avoidable and concerning, they represent only a small fraction of the total emergency cases during the holidays.
The DOH pointed out that the 2026 figures are consistent with a steady trend observed over the previous two holiday seasons in 2024 and 2025.
(Photo courtesy: DOH EV Regional Office)
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