For the second straight year, Catanduanes failed to attain its previous streak of zero casualties of pyrotechnic devices or firecrackers, with six islanders brought to the provincial hospital for treatment of injuries.
The first incident was recorded at 12:30 AM of Christmas Day in San Andres town: a 21-year-old man who was brought to the Eastern Bicol Medical Center almost an hour later with burn injury on his right hand caused by an exploding “kwitis” or baby rocket.
The victim, whose right thumb sustained the force of the blast, refused to be confined at the hospital.
Four days later, on Dec. 29, 2025 at 11 AM, a 10-year-old boy from Igang, Virac was hurt in the eye when an improvised cannon or “boga” exploded.
He and his friends were firing the device when the blast hit him in the right eye, causing conjunctivitis or inflammation of the conjunctiva or clear lining of the eyelid and eyeball, making it appear pink or red.
Brought immediately to the provincial hospital, the boy was properly treated and sent home.
Upon learning of the incident, the Virac Municipal Police Station coordinated with the barangay council to heighten the campaign against prohibited firecrackers and pyrotechnics and confiscated a number of improvised cannons and pellet guns in the area to prevent further incidents.
Three more victims, all from the capital town of Virac, were treated for minor injuries at EBMC in the early morning of Jan. 1, 2026.
According to the Virac police station, a 27-year-old woman from San Juan sustained a burn on her right forearm when it was hit by an exploding “kwitis” while she was outside her house at 2:15 AM.
Thirty-five minutes later in Lanao, a 12-year-old boy was wounded on his right hand when the Three Star firecracker he picked up suddenly exploded.
The third victim was a 42-year-old man from Palnab del Sur who was hurt on his right hand when the baby rocket he was holding exploded. No report was available on the 6th victim.
The six casualties occurred despite reminders from the Catanduanes Police Provincial Office (CatPPO) for the community regarding the ban against the use of illegal devices during the Yuletide celebrations.
“The safety of our youth is our common responsibility. We are calling on all parents to prevent their children from handling any firecracker or pyrotechnic device to avoid any harm during the New Year,” said PNP Provincial Director PCol. Elmer R. Cereno.
Police authorities had warned the public that Republic Act 7183 strictly prohibits the manufacture, sale, use and ownership of improvised cannons or certain types of firecrackers and pyrotechnic devices.
It said that the use of “boga” is dangerous and could lead to serious injury to the body, cause fire and other accidents, especially among the youth.
Under the law, whoever is caught handling or using “boga” could face imprisonment ranging from six months to one year and pay a fine of up to P30,000, as well as confiscation of the banned device.
As of Jan. 4, the Department of Health (DOH) Bicol Center for Health Development has recorded a total of 72 Firecrackers or Fireworks Related Injuries in the region.
The province of Albay topped the list with 23, followed by Camarines Sur with 17, Camarines Norte with 10, Naga City with nine (9), Catanduanes with six (6), Sorsogon and Legazpi City with three (3) each, and Masbate with one (1).
The injuries were caused by the following pyrotechnic devices: Kwitis – 32; Five Star – 11; Boga – 5; Others –6; Lucis – 3; Pla-Pla – 2; Whistle Bomb– 5; Judas Belt – 3; Goodbye Philippines – 1; Piccolo – 1; and Fountain – 2.
Seven of those brought in for treatment were admitted, including a 40-year-old male from Goa, Camarines Sur who sustained a burn injury on the lower lip from an exploding “kwitis” and a 12-year-old female from Naga City who suffered wounds and a fracture on the fingers of her left hand also from a “kwitis.”
In 2024, the lone fireworks related injury in Catanduanes was recorded five minutes after midnight – a man from Lanao, Virac whose left hand was burned by a mishandled “kwitis.”
During the same period in the previous holidays from Dec. 21, 2024 to Jan. 4, 2025, a total of 60 individuals were hurt in fireworks-related incidents in Bicol.
Camarines Sur led with 19, followed by Albay with 14, Camarines Norte with 11, Naga City and Legazpi City with 7 each, and Catanduanes with one.
Three-fourths of the incidents were attributed to the use of just three pyrotechnic devices: kwitis (18), five-star (14) and improvised cannon (13). Of those injured, six required admission to hospitals and 54 were outpatients.