MANILA, Dec. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- The Philippine capital Metro Manila has been hit by too many fires since the beginning of December, with 109 fire incidents destroying millions of pesos worth of property, said the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Saturday.

¡¡¡¡BFP director Robert Asignado told radio DZMM that the number of fires is significantly higher compared to the same period last year.

    The latest fire took place on Thursday, displacing more than 3,000 families in the shanty town of Tondo in Manila. Two people were injured by the fire but no one was killed.

    The National Capital Region which covers Metro Manila has only 150 firetrucks for a population of 17 million, the lowest rate in Southeast Asian capitals.

    The causes of these fires, most of them breaking out in crowded poor areas of the metropolis, ranged from high-powered firecrackers to a failed cellphone charger, said firefighters.

    Hospitals in Metro Manila are also preparing for emergency rooms during the new year's celebration, during which people are using firecrackers and even home-made cannons to meet the advent of the new year.

    Officials have suggested that people avoid using firecrackers and use pots and pans as an alternative.

    Filipinos consider lighting firecrackers on New Year's Eve as away of driving away bad spirits, a tradition passed on from the Chinese who brought the practice to the Philippines.

    The government has also muzzled the guns of policemen during the new year festival to prevent them from firing into the sky, which could result in people being hit by stray bullets.

    Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo personally muzzled the shotguns of a number of cops during a ceremony on Thursday. Enditem