Pia: Push local gov't leaders to implement anti-dengue cleanup drives

Senator Pia S. Cayetano today said concerned government agencies should combine efforts to push local government leaders to enforce clean-up drives in their respective communities to stop the further spread of dengue, whose cases have reached record highs.

"The government should crack the whip on local government leaders who have been neglecting their duty to implement cleanup drives in their localities. We should also push local governments to punish polluters responsible for the proliferation of breeding grounds for disease-carrying mosquitoes," said Cayetano, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

Dengue cases have reportedly reached 84,023 as of September 11 and deaths at 534 as of September 4.

"Dengue may not be as sensational as the jueteng scandal, but it is killing people and taking ill thousands of Filipinos and thus should merit government's equal attention. The Department of Health should not be left on its own in addressing the dengue problem. The Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Environment must also help in intensifying our national anti-dengue campaign.

"Dengue is a deadly disease, but it can be prevented and defeated through a systematic program that ensures proper sanitation in every household and community," she stressed, adding that the more crucial task at this time is how to mobilize local governments and community organizations to effectively enforce anti-dengue cleanup drives at the community level.