ILOILO – With the looming rainy season expected to trigger a surge in dengue cases, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has ordered the preparation of makeshift hospital rooms to accommodate a possible overflow of patients.
Twenty-one classroom tents will be deployed to bolster the capacity of district hospitals, reminiscent of the emergency response during the 2019 dengue crisis when patients were confined to makeshift tents and even hospital hallways due to overcrowding.
Defensor issued the directive during a meeting of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) held on May 30 at the Governor’s Office. He emphasized the urgency of early interventions and a unified provincial response to mitigate the threat.
Dengue is a viral mosquito-borne disease. These mosquitos (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus) breed in clear, stagnant water.
“Dengue only becomes a problem if we are too late,” Defensor said, urging all 43 local government units (LGUs) to act swiftly under the province’s MoRProGRes Iloilo development agenda.
Alongside the deployment of makeshift hospital rooms, the governor also ordered:
* The weekly resumption of the province-wide “Limpyo Iloilo” cleanup drive every Monday;
* Rekorida announcements in barangays to reinforce public awareness and promote sanitation;
* Targeted fogging operations in dengue hotspot areas;
* The creation of barangay-level directories of blood donors and stockpiling of community blood reserves in partnership with the Philippine Red Cross – Iloilo Chapter;
* A mapping of assets from disaster response agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and the Philippine Coast Guard, to ensure smooth coordination;
* Prepositioning of relief goods in strategic locations.
From January 1 to May 17, Iloilo province recorded 1,742 dengue cases with nine deaths — a 77 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, which saw 983 cases and three deaths.
While 38 municipalities and Passi City showed a decline in dengue cases over the past two weeks, five municipalities experienced a significant rise: Badiangan, Concepcion, Leon, San Dionisio, and San Joaquin.
The municipalities with the highest number of dengue cases so far this year are:
* San Joaquin (132)
* Oton (100 with one death)
* Leon (90)
* Cabatuan (80)
* Dumangas (80)
* Lambunao (66)
* Pototan (63 with two deaths)
* San Dionisio (60)
* Calinog (57)
* Janiuay (54)
Health officials warn that the surge may peak between July and August, consistent with historical data showing increased transmission during the rainy season due to stagnant water serving as mosquito breeding grounds.
Dengue has a wide range of symptoms, which usually begin four to 10 days after being bitten by an infected Aedes mosquito. The most common signs are sudden high fever (often reaching 40°C or 104°F), severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain (“breakbone fever”), nausea and vomiting, skin rash (appears 2–5 days after the onset of fever),fatigue and weakness, mild bleeding (such as nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or easy bruising), and swollen glands.
Dr. Rodney Labis of the Iloilo Provincial Health Office noted that the province’s current dengue trend remains above the outbreak threshold.
“Let us go back to basics,” Defensor said. “The best defense against dengue is clean surroundings, early reporting, and united action.”
Severe dengue warning signs (usually develop three to seven days after the first symptoms and require immediate medical attention): severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, blood in vomit or stool, fatigue or restlessness, enlargement of the liver, and sudden drop in platelet count.
If any of these severe signs appear, seek emergency medical care immediately, as severe dengue can lead to shock, internal bleeding, and even death if untreated.
Other areas that reported dengue cases are: Ajuy (52), Pavia (50), Passi City (49), Sara (48 cases with one death), Maasin (46), Banate (42), Barotac Viejo (42), Barotac Nuevo (41), Concepcion (40), Estancia (39), Tigbauan (37 cases with one death), Miag-ao (33), Santa Barbara (33), Carles (31 cases with two deaths), San Miguel (30), Guimbal (27), Anila (26), Batad (25), Badiangan (24), San Rafael (24), Dingle (23), Dueñas (23 cases with one death), Alimodian (22), Balasan (20 cases with one death), Igbaras (18), Mina (18), Leganes (17), Lemery (16), San Enrique (16), Tubungan (15), Bingawan (14), Zarraga (12), and New Lucena (seven)./PN
