BACOLOD City – Mayor Greg Gasataya has urged parents and caregivers to have their young children vaccinated against measles and rubella as the city gears up for the nationwide Ligtas Tigdas Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign from August 10 to 28.
Gasataya encouraged parents of children aged 6 to 59 months to bring them to the nearest barangay health station or designated vaccination site to receive the free measles-rubella vaccine.
“Parents, let us not wait. Let us protect our children. Join the Ligtas Tigdas campaign,” the mayor said.
The appeal comes amid a surge in measles-rubella cases nationwide.
The Department of Health (DOH) reported 1,627 measles-rubella cases during the first quarter of 2026, a 45-percent increase compared with the same period last year. The agency also said 68 percent of those infected had not received the measles vaccine.
In the Negros Island Region, including Bacolod City, health authorities aim to vaccinate 437,586 children during the supplemental immunization campaign to strengthen protection against the highly contagious diseases.
To boost public awareness ahead of the vaccination drive, the City Health Office (CHO), through its Health Promotion Unit, has intensified its information campaign by conducting community orientations and information sessions in barangays and child development centers.
On July 21, personnel from the CHO Health Promotion Unit and the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit conducted an orientation during a parents’ and teachers’ meeting at the Celita Village Child Development Center in Barangay Alijis.
The session highlighted the benefits of vaccination and the risks posed by measles and rubella, particularly among young children.
The CHO, in partnership with the DOH, reiterated that the vaccines are free, safe, and effective, emphasizing that immunization remains one of the most effective ways to prevent outbreaks and protect children from serious complications caused by the diseases.
The DOH-Negros Island Region likewise urged parents and caregivers to take advantage of the campaign, stressing that high vaccination coverage is essential to preventing the spread of measles and rubella and strengthening community immunity.
The CHO said it will continue its information drives in schools, child development centers, and barangays in the weeks leading up to the vaccination campaign to encourage greater public participation and ensure that more children are protected./PN
