Manila - Injuries caused by rowdy New Year's Eve revelries in the Philippines declined 25 per cent due to intermittent rains and the global economic crunch, the health chief said Thursday.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque said hospitals recorded only 346 cases of New Year's Eve injuries, a sharp decline from 417 cases in the previous year.

Duque said intermittent rains overnight contributed to a decline in the use of fireworks.

He said people were also more prudent in spending their money in anticipation of bleak economic prospects in 2009 due to the global financial crisis.

Duque said 335 of the injuries were due to fireworks blasts, while nine cases were stray bullet wounds. Two cases of firecracker ingestion were also reported.

Filipinos traditionally explode firecrackers and make a lot of noise during New Year's Eve in the belief that they will drive away the bad luck of the past year and attract good luck in the coming year. (dpa)