With ‘alarming’ increase of cases: LMP–Cebu urges LGUs to act against dengue

CEBU, Philippines - Following the number of dengue cases reported in the province, the president of the League of Municipalities in the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter is asking local government units to take preventive measures against the deadly disease.

Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante suggested for each LGU to purchase its own misting machine and conduct regular cleanup drive and misting operations in possible breeding areas of mosquitoes.

He is also asking the provincial government to extend assistance considering that some LGUs have limited resources.

“Di man ta kahibalo kanus-a moabot nang outbreak sa tagsa-tagsa ka lungsod, kinahanglan mangandam ‘ta. Hopefully matabangan mi sa Provincial Government, matagaan na ang ubang lungsod,” he said.

Diamante said no dengue case was reported in his town. However, he has directed the barangay captains and the rural health unit to continue monitoring.

He added that he would also confer with the members of the LMP-Cebu to craft plans on how to address dengue cases in the province.

Provincial Health Office, meanwhile, will sit with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council this month to tackle the same problem on dengue.

PHO chief Cynthia Genosolango said he had initially raised the matter to PDRRM Office head Baltazar Tribunalo Jr.

The Provincial Board through a resolution has also requested the Department of Health-7 to post comprehensive information posters and hold massive information drive against dengue.

“Dengue is a formidable disease which has claimed the lives of some victims. It is alarming enough that in the Province of Cebu there are hundreds of cases recorded related to the said disease,” read part of the resolution sponsored by Board Member Arleigh Sitoy.

Recently, more than 70 dengue cases were reported in Daanbantayan town alone with one death. Two deaths due to the same disease were recorded in Consolacion and Badian.

Binays at VSMMC

Senator Nancy Binay and her father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, yesterday turned over medical supplies to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center such as intravenous fluids and medicines for the treatment of dengue patients.

“We are making this contribution in light of the recent surge in cases of dengue in the country,” the senator said.

     Senator Binay said one of her children was afflicted with dengue as well as Senator Juan Ponce Enrile.

“Dengue has becoming so alarming and sabi nga ng doctor dito (VSMMC), they have at least 30 patients with dengue per day. Sana makatulong ‘yung binigay namin,” she said.

A separate press statement from Senator Binay’s office also says that the latest surveillance report from the DOH cited Central Visayas as one of the areas where they recorded spikes in the cases of mosquito-borne diseases this year.

It further said that from January 1 till September 19 this year, dengue cases have gone up by 23.5 percent.

“In nine months, the number of dengue cases in our country has ballooned to 92,807. The government should be alarmed by this number because while the health department says that deaths due to dengue have gone down, the fact is that there  are those who still die because of this illness,” said the senator.

The senator earlier filed a resolution in the Senate seeking an investigation into the increase in the number of dengue cases in the country.

Senate Resolution No. 1608 calls on the proper Senate committees to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation regarding the alarming increase of reported dengue cases in the country, with the end in view of proposing policy for continuous improvement in the prevention of the disease. — (FREEMAN)