BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia called for an urgent meeting with all 61 barangay captains of Bacolod City on Monday, August 26, in spite of being an official holiday, to strengthen the measures in fighting the dengue virus.
The mayor, with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran and councilors, will meet with the barangay captains at the MassKara Hall of the Bacolod City Government Center starting 2 p.m.
Also expected to attend are DILG-Bacolod director Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, City Health Officer Ma. Carmela Gensoli, city officials and representatives from other government agencies, and the private sector.
The mayor is appealing to all city and barangay officials, schools, and communities to do their individual share in the fight against dengue.
Earlier, Leonardia ordered the City Health Office (CHO) to implement in Bacolod the "Sabayang 4-o'clock habit para Deng-get out!", a vector control program which aims to search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, that was launched by the Department of Health (DOH).
The local battlecry is "Deng-get out of Bacolod!"
The "4-o'clock habit" is a strategy that seeks to raise awareness and encourage the community to do its share and take time to weed out dengue breeding sites at 4 p.m. every day.
It has been known that mosquitoes carrying the disease are most active at dusk around this time and religiously exercising this intervention is key to reducing the risk of dengue.
Leonardia said he will ask the barangay captains to actively implement the "4 o'clock habit" in their respective barangays.
Leonardia said the City Government will also partner with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Chamber Fire Brigade, and Amity Volunteer Fire Brigade, where the firetrucks will go around the barangays and sounding their sirens at 4 p.m. to remind the residents that it is time to observe the "Deng-get out of Bacolod!"
The mayor said they will also try to request churches to ring their church bells every 4 p.m. for the same purpose.
Councilor Cindy Rojas, chair of the City Council committee on health, had said that the City Council earlier approved the P17.8 million appropriation ordinance to fund the CHO's anti-dengue campaign in the city.
Dr. Grace Tan, CHO-Environmental Sanitation Division head, said the budget will be used for the purchase of medicines, chemicals, and equipment for their campaign on dengue. (PR)