KIDAPAWAN CITY (August 14) — North Cotabato Nancy Catamco said dengue cases in the province has reached an ‘epidemic threshold” with 16 deaths recorded during the last seven months.
With this, the the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) on Tuesday passed a resolution urging the provincial board to declare state of calamity in the province due to dengue.
The resolution which was unanimously approved was immediately forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlungsod through the office of Vice Governor Emmylou Mendoza.
Catamco, concurrent PDRRMC chair, said dengue cases in the province have already reached an “epidemic threshold” with 16 deaths from January to August 12 this year.
The casualties this year is 221 percent higher compared with the same period last year.
“This is a matter of life and death. From now on, no Cotabateño should die of dengue, we are acting quickly,” Catamco assured her constituents.
The provincial government has embarked a massive anti-dengue drive but despite this, many communities are still affected.
If the province will be placed under the state of calamity, the provincial government can utilize part of its five percent calamity fund for programs and activities related to addressing the dengue problem.
Earlier on, the municipalities of Banisilan and Alamada have separately declared state of calamity as cases of dengue has reached reaching 159 and 342, respectively.
Of the 16 deaths recorded in the province, three accounts to Alamada town.
The Integrated Provincial Health Office has been at the forefront of the ongoing anti-dengue campaign and the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue program of the provincial government.-editha z. caduaya/newsline.ph
