ANTIQUE – Barangay Idio intensified its cleanup drive amid the high cases of dengue in the municipality of Sebaste here, leading to its declaration under a state of calamity.
Barangay captain Pamela Azucena said they are campaigning for residents to practice the 4 o’clock habit as a preventive measure, especially since they host two of the town’s public schools – Sebaste National High School and Idio Elementary School.
The 4 o’clock habit is a simultaneous daily cleanup participated by residents in the community every 4 p.m.
“I really remind my constituents to get rid of the possible mosquito breeding places,” she said in an interview on Wednesday, March 12.
Data from the Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) showed that Idio ranks third in dengue incidence in Sebaste, with 14 as of March 9.
Sebaste, on the other hand, has the highest cases with 138, including one death among the 18 municipalities of Antique.
Azucena said preventive measures are necessary since they could not utilize all their P72,000 quick response fund (QRF) for dengue response.
“We already had our first cycle of spraying, and so we do not have enough funds for the next cycle,” she said.
Meanwhile, cases for the entire province reached 817 cases, including the three deaths in Sebaste, Culasi and Anini-y towns for the January 1 until March 9 period.
Following Sebaste with high cases are Culasi with 116, including one death; Tibiao, 105; Valderamma, 67; and Barbaza with 60 cases. (PNA)
