ILOILO City – The provincial government will provide logistical support to local government units (LGUs) to bolster the ongoing fight against rising dengue cases.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. said the provincial government is focusing on three key areas – providing dengue test kits, IV fluids, and hospital bed space.
Defensor expects the delivery of procured dengue test kits to augment supplies.
The funding for the assistance will be sourced from the quick response fund of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO), supplemented by a separate P13.6 million calamity fund approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP).
The PDRRMC’s requested calamity fund allocation includes P3 million for IV fluids, P5.6 million for knapsack sprayers, P2 million for dengue test kits, and P3 million for spraying chemicals.
“While historical data showed a decrease in dengue cases towards September during the 2019 outbreak, we remain vigilant and proactive,” said Defensor.
He reiterated three preventive measures: conducting regular clean-up drives to eliminate breeding grounds, wearing long clothing to reduce mosquito exposure, and seeking immediate medical consultation for symptoms.
From January 1, 2024 to August 24, 2024, Iloilo Province recorded 17 dengue deaths:
* six-year-old boy from Miag-ao, February 11
* 16-year-old girl from Miag-ao, April 21
* four-year-old boy from Lambunao, February 21
* 15-year-old boy from Badiangan, May 21
* 20-year-old man from Badiangan, June 5
* eight-year-old girl from Igbaras, August 5
* 20-year-old man from Dingle, July 16
* three-year-old girl from Banate, August 10
* 34-year-old man from Concepcion, August 11
* seven-year-old girl from Barotac Nuevo, August 13
* 41-year-old woman from Barotac Nuevo, August 8
* 22-year-old woman from Barotac Nuevo, August 16
* 54-year-old woman from Sara, August 13
* six-year-old boy from Estancia, August 14
* four-year-old boy from Passi City, August 19
* 10-year-old boy from Passi City, August 9
* 80-year-old woman from San Dionisio, August 25
These deaths are part of the 6,816 dengue cases reported this year – a 492 percent increase from the same period in 2023, which had only 1,151 cases and one death.
The areas with the highest incidence of dengue – a mosquito-borne disease – include Passi City (497 cases, two deaths), and the towns of Oton (338), Calinog (289), Leon (278), Dumangas (273), Barotac Nuevo (245, two deaths), Lambunao (245, one death), Dingle (236, one death), and Cabatuan (199).
The other towns that reported dengue cases were San Dionisio (193 cases with one death), Badiangan (189 cases with two deaths), Tigbauan (186) Santa Barbara (184), Sara (179), Pavia (177), Barotac Viejo (176), Miag-ao (172 cases with two deaths), Pototan (166), Alimodian (161), Lemery (161), Igbaras (158 cases with one death), Dueñas (144), Banate (135 cases with one death), Batad (125), San Miguel (125), Ajuy (111), San Enrique (110), Mina (110), San Joaquin (92), Balasan (90), Estancia (90 cases with one death), Maasin (88), Bingawan (87), Concepcion (83 cases with one death), Leganes (80), Zarraga (80), Anilao (74), Guimbal (66), Carles (52), Tubungan (49), New Lucena (42), and San Rafael (30)./PN