BACOLOD City — The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has called on concerned city government offices and all 61 barangays to intensify coordinated efforts to prevent dengue and leptospirosis amid increases in cases of both diseases.
The City Council unanimously approved a resolution authored by Councilor Atty. Caesar Z. Distrito, urging sustained community-based disease prevention, surveillance, sanitation and public information campaigns, particularly during the rainy season and periods of flooding.
Distrito stressed the need for proactive interventions to protect residents, especially those in flood-prone communities, saying authorities should not wait for infections to rise before acting.
“We should not wait for dengue and leptospirosis cases to increase or for lives to be lost before taking action. Prevention must always be our first line of defense,” he said.
City Health Office (CHO) records showed that Bacolod logged 891 dengue cases and six deaths as of October 3, up 1.5 percent from 878 cases and six deaths recorded during the same period last year.
Leptospirosis cases also increased by 23.1 percent, from 26 cases to 32, while deaths remained at six.
Under the resolution, the CHO is urged to identify and monitor high-risk barangays, strengthen disease surveillance and reporting, intensify public awareness campaigns, and assess the preparedness of barangay health centers and city-operated health facilities.
Barangay chairpersons are likewise encouraged to mobilize health workers, emergency response teams, Sangguniang Kabataan officials and community volunteers for regular cleanup drives, the elimination of mosquito breeding sites and the promotion of preventive health practices.
The City Engineer’s Office and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office are also urged to prioritize clearing drainage obstructions and addressing sanitation problems in flood-prone areas.
The resolution further calls on the CHO to submit a comprehensive report within 30 days of receipt, covering available surveillance data, identified high-risk areas, existing prevention programs, resource requirements and proposed interventions.
Distrito said the report would help the council assess the city’s preparedness and determine the legislative and budgetary support needed to strengthen disease prevention and control.
He emphasized that protecting public health requires sustained cooperation among government agencies, barangay officials, schools, health workers and residents.
“Public health protection should be continuous, not seasonal. Through prevention, preparedness, and cooperation, we can save lives and build a healthier and safer Bacolod City,” Distrito said./PN
