Happy New Year to our Readers! Have a Safe New Year's Celebration With the Diliman Diary and DOH!

U.P. Diliman 2010 Lantern Parade fireworks display

Are you stuck at home during New Year's Eve? Abroad and unable to come back in time for the New Year's celebrations back in the Philippines? Or do you simply plan to save your digits from being mangled during the New Year's Eve celebration by enjoying a virtual fireworks celebration? Do you plan on staying indoors to avoid stray bullets hurtling back to earth and causing more than just a passing headache? Then hang out with us at the Diliman Diary and enjoy a virtual celebration. All you need is a laptop, PC or netbook adjusted to full volume to enjoy the virtual sound of celebration and firecrackers and fireworks. These audio files are courtesy of the Department of Health (DOH) website with their Goodbye Paputok project. The DOH Hotline may be accessed at number 672-7177.

Enjoy these audio files which may be used in lieu of actual and more dangerous firecrackers and fireworks. Save your digits, and just download these audio files of exploding fireworks and firecrackers from the DOH-designated website: And Happy 2012 to our readers from the editors of the Diliman Diary! :-)

DOH asks New Year’s Eve revelers to be careful in using ‘torotot’

MANILA, Dec. 28 (PNA) – The Department of Health (DoH) on Tuesday asked New Year’s Eve revelers to be careful in using "Torotot" (paper horns) in welcoming the 2011 on Friday.

Health Secretary Enrique Ona said the paper horns can also be dangerous to children who will be welcoming 2011. He said two children have been rushed to the hospital after swallowing "torotot" whistles.

Ona said instead of using torotot and firecrackers, people should just use pots and pans to make noise on New Year's Eve.

Meanwhile, Ona announced that the DOH has already recorded 173 firecracker-related injuries from December 21 to December 28.

He said the number is a 36 percent jump from the average of the last five years, but 12 percent lower compared to the number of firecracker-related injuries recorded in the same period of 2009.

Ona said that the China-made Piccolo firecracker remains on top of the list of reasons for these injuries followed by "kwitis."

The health secretary said they are expecting the figure to balloon to 1,000 in the next three days if people would continue using firecrackers.

The DOH has repeatedly advised people to conduct "community fireworks" and local governments to assign specific areas where adults can light firecrackers during the New Year revelry. (PNA)

U.P. College of Medicine Professor Teodoro J. Herbosa is appointed as DOH Undersecretary and Dr. Romulo Busuego as Assistant Secretary

(Photo source: http://www.doh.gov.ph)

Dr Teodoro Herbosa and Dr. Romulo Busuego took their oath of office as new Department of Health Undrsecretary and Assistant Secretary, respectively, the Department of Health said in an announcement on October 29, 2010. The new DOH officials will handle hospital operations aimed at strengthening existing referral and networking system of DOH hospitals, including private facilities. Also included in their battle of action is the upgrading of local government hospitals in order to make tertiary hospitals more efficient.