ILOILO, Philippines – Iloilo City is now under the state of calamity because of the rising cases of dengue.

The Sangguniang Panlungsod, in its regular session Wednesday, August 28, approved the recommendation of the city disaster risk reduction and management office (CDRRMO) to place the city under state of calamity.

City Councilor Romel Duron told Rappler that they unanimously approved the recommendation of CDRRMO as well a resolution declaring the state of calamity.

As a consequence, the city government will allot a substantial budget from its disaster or quick response funds for any initiative that will immediately deter, or, if possible, eradicate dengue.

Since January to August 27, the Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) has logged a total 945 dengue cases with four fatalities, which is over 50% higher compared to the same period last year.

The city has at present a total 42 active and 899 recovered dengue cases.

Iloilo City is the first highly-urbanized city in Western Visayas to declare a state of calamity because of the unabated rise of dengue cases.

As to the six provinces in the region, Iloilo and Capiz were already under state of a calamity since last week.

The Department of Health (DOH) in Western Visayas, in its latest dengue advisory, said that as of August 17, a total of 15,688 dengue cases have had been recorded in the entire region with 31 deaths already.

But Dr. Bea Camille Natalaray, medical coordinator for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, told a news conference on Tuesday, August 27, that there were a total of 3,490 new dengue cases in the region from August 11-17.

The new dengue cases are:

• Iloilo – 1,315
• Negros Occidental – 547
• Guimaras – 408
• Capiz – 330
• Aklan – 258
• Iloilo City – 253
• Bacolod City – 196
• Antique – 183

Meanwhile, the ICHO still urged Ilonggos to take part in maintaining the cleanliness of their surroundings to protect their family, children, and community from dengue and other diseases.

Observance of the “4 O’ ‘Clock” habit, which the daily cleaning of surroundings every 4 pm, is still being pushed among Ilonggo communities.

In Bacolod, Dr. Carmela Gensole, city health chief, said on Tuesday, August 27, that on June 11 to 17 alone, they recorded a total of 196 dengue cases, which is a bit higher compared to the 168 from August 4 to 10.

But, Bacolod ha no plan yet to declare state of calamity amid sharp increase in dengue cases.

Negros Occidental, on the other hand, noted an increase of 151% in dengue cases for eight months now (January to August) compared to same period last year, a report from the Provincial Health Office (PHO) said. – Rappler.com