Mandaue activates dengue task force

CEBU, Philippines — The Mandaue City Council has approved a resolution activating the Dengue Task Force in all 27 barangays as part of the city’s efforts to prevent a rise in dengue cases.

Councilor Raul Kevin Cabahug, author of the resolution, said in an interview yesterday, June 22, that the measure is intended to strengthen the city’s dengue prevention campaign before cases increase.

The Dengue Task Force consists primarily of barangay health workers tasked with monitoring and implementing anti-dengue measures in their respective communities.

Cabahug acknowledged that Mandaue City has consistently recorded a significant number of dengue cases in previous years.

“That’s why we need to be proactive,” Cabahug said.

Under the approved resolution, the city council is urging all barangays to activate their respective Dengue Task Forces. Each barangay already has an existing task force created through a local ordinance.

Cabahug said the resolution also calls on barangay officials not only to activate their task forces but also to ensure the proper implementation of dengue prevention measures.

The task forces will conduct regular monitoring in their barangays, particularly identifying and eliminating stagnant water that serves as breeding grounds for mosquitoes carrying the dengue virus.

Cabahug said the task forces will also help enforce a city ordinance passed around 2018 that penalizes property owners who fail to address stagnant water on their premises.

“Pwede i-penalize ang nagpasagad lang sa ilang lugar,” Cabahug said.

He noted that the city government is now taking a more proactive approach compared to previous years when action was often intensified only after dengue cases had already increased.

“Karon kinahanglan ta molihok mintras wala pa,” he said, noting that the rainy months of July and August are approaching.

“We are very confident now that dili maparehas ang cases last year, mo-less g’yud ang cases this year,” Cabahug said.

He stressed the importance of activating the task groups as early as possible and avoiding complacency in the city’s dengue prevention efforts.

Data from the City Health Office showed that Mandaue City recorded 198 dengue cases from January to June 2026, lower than the 273 cases reported during the same period in 2025.

Records showed that the city logged a total of 520 dengue cases in 2025. (CEBU NEWS)