BACOLOD City — The city government, through the City Health Office (CHO), has intensified its dengue prevention campaign by partnering with health organizations and key stakeholders to strengthen public awareness and coordinated disease control efforts.
As part of the campaign, the CHO conducted three targeted dengue awareness and prevention sessions on January 28, involving media practitioners, barangay leaders, and representatives from the education sector to boost collaboration and community-based action against the disease.
The activities were held in partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), and Takeda Healthcare Philippines, forming part of the city’s broader dengue advocacy program.
A roundtable discussion at Bacolod City College (BCC) brought together media members, barangay officials, and Barangay Health Workers to discuss the city’s dengue situation, integrated control measures, and the importance of accurate information dissemination.
In the afternoon, a separate session was held at Rizal Elementary School for public school teachers and school disaster risk reduction coordinators, focusing on strengthening the role of schools in dengue prevention and early detection.
Assistant City Health Officer Dr. Grace Tan reported that Bacolod City recorded 1,040 dengue cases from January 5, 2025 to January 3, 2026, reflecting a 60.4 percent decrease compared to the same period last year. However, dengue-related deaths were still recorded, underscoring the continued threat posed by the disease.
“Lower case numbers should not lead to complacency. Dengue outbreaks can happen again if prevention efforts are not sustained,” Dr. Tan said.
Global data presented during the sessions showed that the Philippines continues to record the highest number of dengue cases in the ASEAN region, with more than 340,000 cases reported as of November 2024, highlighting the need for strengthened local prevention measures.
Pediatricians Dr. Rachelle Vicencio and Dr. Alexis Milan of the Philippine Pediatric Society served as resource speakers, emphasizing the heightened risk of dengue among children and warning against misinformation and unproven remedies. They also urged early medical consultation at the first sign of symptoms.
Participants were further briefed on global dengue prevention initiatives, including the Phase 3 TIDES trial of the dengue vaccine TAK-003, which demonstrated long-term protection against dengue and dengue-related hospitalization. The vaccine is currently under review by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration.
The CHO reiterated its push for an integrated approach to dengue control, including environmental sanitation, the 4S strategy, early consultation, and school-based health education, in line with the Department of Health’s “Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito” campaign.
Through strengthened partnerships with health groups and key sectors, the Bacolod City Government aims to further curb dengue and protect residents from future outbreaks./PN
