With only less than a third of Davao City barangays having their own Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease Task Force, former Davao City congressman Karlo Nograles on Tuesday committed to extend “whatever support necessary” to ensure that measures are in place to protect Dabawenyos from the scourge of dengue.
According to the former Civil Service Commission chief, “dengue remains a serious public health threat, not just in Davao City but across the Philippines."
According to news reports, Davao City recorded 7,089 dengue cases and 55 fatalities in 2024, up from 6,784 cases and 52 deaths in 2023.
"Even one death is one death too many because every case of dengue is preventable. Our best defense against dengue is not just treating those who get sick but ensuring fewer people get Dengue in the first place. Given the recent statistics, it's clear that we need to intensify our efforts in eliminating breeding grounds, keeping our surroundings clean, and making Davao inhospitable for mosquitoes,” Nograles said in one of his barangay visits.
The longtime public servant pointed out that if prevention is the objective, battling Dengue should be a year-round program instead of a seasonal campaign.
According to Nograles, the strategy to fight dengue, which is dubbed 5S: Search and destroy mosquito breeding sites, Secure self-protection measures, Seek early consultation, Support fogging in outbreak areas, and Sustain hydration and medical intervention is already in place. However, it only works if it is implemented and everyone in the community is actively participating.
"The activation of a Mosquito-Borne Viral Disease Task Force in each barangay would be crucial in such efforts," Nograles said.
He explained that dengue is not just a health issue; it’s a community issue thus, every home, barangay, and business must do its part in keeping the surroundings clean and free from stagnant water, especially since Davao City logs thousands of dengue cases annually.
"We need our barangay leaders to organize our community efforts against dengue, and we will give them every resource they need to defeat dengue," he said.
Aside from tapping barangays, Nograles also is looking into assessing the general cleanliness and sanitation of the city and evaluating its impact on the spread of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
“We need to revisit how we manage our urban spaces. Clean surroundings, proper waste disposal, and strict enforcement of sanitation measures should be part of our daily routine, not just when dengue cases rise,” he ended. PR