MANILA - The downward trend on reported firework-related injuries shows the relative success of the government's campaign against personal and residential use of firecrackers, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said Thursday.

Firecracker-related injuries were down 35 percent from Dec. 21 to early morning of Jan. 1 during the same comparable period leading to New Year's Day 2019, the Department of Health said Wednesday.

"It should be relatively successful given that there is a downtrend in injuries, 35 percent, malaki na ang 35 percent at walang deaths ah, 'yun ang significant dun,” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.

(35 percent is big and there are no deaths so that is significant)

He, however, added that firecracker-related injuries may still be avoided in the future.

• Firecracker injuries decline in welcome to New Year's Day 2020

Health Secretary Francisco Duque had said that Duterte’s 2017 executive order limiting the use of firecrackers in the country could be credited for the decrease, along with the information campaign of the DOH.

Panelo reiterated that if President Duterte would have his way, the chief executive would still push for a total ban on firecrackers.

“Kung si President masusunod, gusto niya total ban pero marami din nakikiusap na i-regulate so siguro yun muna,” Panelo said.

(If the President had his way, he would want a total ban but many people asked if it could be just a regulation so maybe we’ll stick with that first.)