ILOILO – Due to a severe dengue outbreak, the City Council of Passi has declared a state of calamity.
In a special session led by Vice Mayor Elyzer Chavez on August 9, the council approved Resolution No. 2024 -129, citing the rising dengue cases as a significant health threat.
On August 8, Passi City recorded 327 confirmed cases of dengue, including one fatality — a 10-year-old boy from Dorillos Street, who passed away last week while receiving treatment at the Iloilo Mission Hospital in Iloilo City.
The most affected areas include the barangays of Agdahon, Gines Viejo, Poblacion Ilawod, Man-it, Arac, Imbang Grande, Talongonan, Sablogon, Poblacion Ilaya, and Quinagaringan Pequeño.
The resolution is grounded in Memorandum Order Number 60, Series of 2019, from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), which outlines the conditions under which a state of calamity can be declared due to public health emergencies.
In response to the crisis, Mayor Stephen Palmares announced that the calamity fund would be utilized to purchase dengue kits, IV fluids, and other necessary supplies for the affected barangays.
He also emphasized the importance of the community adhering to the 4S strategy against dengue, which includes searching and destroying breeding places, securing self-protection, seeking early consultation, and supporting fogging or spraying in hotspot areas.
Recent data from the Iloilo Provincial Health Office indicates that Passi City has the highest number of dengue cases in Iloilo Province for this year, with 256 cases recorded as of August 3 — a 631 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023, which saw only 35 cases.
Other towns reporting high dengue incidences include Dingle (189 cases with one death), Lambunao (167 cases with one death), Oton (165), Dumangas (163), Calinog (157), Badiangan (146 cases with two deaths), Janiuay (139), Barotac Nuevo (122), and Miag-ao (109 cases with two deaths).
Overall, the province has registered 3,608 dengue cases with six deaths as of August 3, marking a 242 percent increase from the previous year, which had 1,056 cases./PN
