DILG orders LGUs to have cleanup drives to halt dengue spread

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday urged local government units (LGUs) to undertake cleanup drives to stop the spread of dengue.

"The alarming increase of dengue cases in several areas should prompt LGUs to act now and act fast in arresting the spread of dengue in their respective areas. We should not allow dengue to debilitate our communities,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said.

This came days after Health Secretary Francisco Duque III declared a "National Dengue Alert" as cases of dengue continue to increase in the country.

Año directed local government officials to coordinate with DOH representatives in identifying breeding areas and learning the necessary steps to take in the safe and effective containment of mosquitoes.

Duque has said code blue had been activated in coordination with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office. 

Data from the DOH showed that the number of dengue cases already reached 106,630 from January 1 to June 29, which was 85% higher compared to the same period in 2018.

Meanwhile, Año also encouraged LGUs to let residents participate in cleanup drives.

"Lahat tayo ay magtulong-tulong at kumilos na.  Huwag nating iasa na lang sa gobyerno ang paglilinis at pagsisinop sa ating mga kapaligiran para maiwasan ang dengue,” he said. — RSJ, GMA News