MANILA (UPDATE) -- Firecracker related injuries declined in the run-up to New Year's Day 2020, compared to the previous year, Health Secretary Francisco Duque said.

The Department of Health Recorded 164 injuries from Dec. 21 to early morning of Jan. 1, down 35 percent during the same comparable period leading to New Year's Day 2019, Duque said.

"We would like to think that Executive Order No. 28 has an impact as it did for the last 2 years in 2017, 2018 and continuing on to 2019," Duque said.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed EO No. 28 in 2017, limiting the use of firecrackers in the country. Duque also credited the decrease to the information campaign of the DOH with the support of media and local chief executives.

There were no immediate reports of deaths and the casualty count could rise since the DOH will record cases up to Jan. 6, Duque told reporters.

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LEGAL, BUT INJURIOUS

While the DOH is still far from its target of zero firework-related injuries, Duque said they are working towards achieving this in the future.

"What is the instrument of achieving (zero casualty)? Its banning it just like all other countries have banned the use of fireworks," he said.

The health chief said every firework product can be injuries. He said statistics would show that more legal fireworks are causing injuries rather than the illegal ones.

Among the firecrackers which caused injuries were kuwitis, luces, fountain, piccolo and baby rocket. Of the 5, only piccolo is illegal.

"We hope that the administration of President Duterte will be able to create a legacy of an absolute ban of fireworks so that we will have zero injury," he said.

He added, "We have the moral ascendancy to lead the way in crafting a bill for Congress to consider after we shall have consulted all the would-be affected sectors."

At the Jose Fabella hospital in Manila, a man's hand was amputated after a powerful firecracker, Goodbye Philippines, exploded in his grasp.

At the East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City, 16 were treated for burns mostly due to kuwitis (rocket) and sparklers. A woman was wounded in the eye while filming the festivities using her smartphone.

A man was wounded when his pressure cooker exploded while another was hit on the head with a bottle.

There were no immediate reports of injuries due to stray bullets.

In Manila, another 16 were brought to different hospitals due to firecracker-related injuries, the city's public information office said.

Authorities advised the public not to pick up unexploded firecrackers and sparklers from the streets.