Capiz became the second province in Western Visayas to declare a state of calamity due to the alarming rise in dengue cases that pushed the province past the epidemic threshold level.
The declaration was made on Thursday, August 22, 2024, following an emergency meeting convened by Governor Fredenil Castro.
According to the Capiz Provincial Health Office (PHO), the province recorded 1,763 dengue cases this year, resulting in four deaths. This marked a 279 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Provincial health officer Dr. Ramon Alex Nolasco reported that Dumarao registered the highest number of cases with 153, followed by Mambusao (140), Dao (92), and Dumalag (64).
“We have provided capacity training and development as well as action planning for local government units to address the situation,” Nolasco stated.
The PHO is appealing to the public to take the declaration of the state of calamity seriously. A recent survey revealed that the 5S Strategy recommended by the Department of Health (DOH) against Dengue is not being effectively implemented.
“For example, out of around 6,000 households, only 2,000 are practicing the search and destroy method. That’s not even 50 percent,” Nolasco said.
Nolasco also highlighted a common complaint from the public: “Why should we clean up? Who will help us?” This sentiment reflects the need for greater community cooperation in combating the spread of dengue.
Iloilo was the first in Western Visayas to declare a state of calamity due to the sudden spike in dengue cases. Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas is also considering declaring a state of calamity in the city as dengue cases continue to rise.
Treñas mentioned that the city is heading to that direction and has already instructed the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) to assess the situation.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated.
