Chairman Francis Tolentino of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today urged the local government units (LGUs) of the National Capital Region to intensify their anti-dengue operations in the midst of increased reported cases in the metropolis and nearby suburbs.
“I am asking all LGU officials to conduct massive clean-up operations, if necessary, particularly in densely-populated areas, to prevent spate of dengue incidents in Metro Manila,” Tolentino said.
The call to step-up anti-dengue operations in Metro Manila was made following recent pronouncement of the Department of Health (DOH) that there is a 16.5 percent increase in dengue cases this year, totaling to 78,808 people across the country afflicted from January 1 to September 5, with 233 deaths.
Out of this figure, 8,099 were recorded in Metro Manila alone, while the Calabarzon region posted the highest number of cases with 11,894, prompting the provincial government of Cavite to declare a state of calamity.
According to Tolentino, the agency is more than willing to provide help to LGUs. “We can conduct misting operations using the latest chemical available, which according to experts, can kill even adult dengue-carrying mosquitoes and to eliminate possible breeding sites of mosquitoes.”
Further, the MMDA chief asks the DOH to aid in raising the level of public awareness on dengue and help fight the disease.
In recent years, anti-dengue clean-up operations were included in MMDA’s Lingap sa Barangay program, with public health as one of its mandates. (MMDA)
