ILOILO – To strengthen and institutionalize the Department of Health (DOH)’s 4S strategy in dengue prevention — particularly the “search and destroy” component — Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has directed all 43 local government units (LGUs) in the province to implement a weekly clean-up drive called “Limpyo Iloilo, Kada Lunes nga Lihok Kontra Lamok” (Clean Iloilo, Every Monday Movement Against Mosquitoes).
The directive was issued through Executive Order No. 29, Series of 2025, mandating the province-wide campaign every Monday at 4 p.m. as part of Iloilo’s ongoing dengue outbreak response. The initiative aims to eliminate mosquito breeding sites and reduce dengue transmission, especially during the rainy season.
From January 1 to March 22, the province recorded 1,128 dengue cases with seven deaths, marking a 78 percent increase compared to the same period last year, which had 635 cases and two deaths.
Dengue is a viral infection transmitted to humans through the bite of infected female Aedes mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti. These mosquitoes are daytime biters and often breed in clean, stagnant water found in containers such as buckets, drums, flower pots, tires, and clogged gutters.
Symptoms usually appear four to 10 days after the mosquito bite and include sudden high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, nausea and vomiting, and mild bleeding (nose or gums, or easy bruising).
Severe dengue can cause internal bleeding, organ failure, and can be fatal, particularly if not managed early.
Under the executive order, the following key measures will be observed:
* All LGUs are to mobilize their communities every Monday at 4 p.m. Sirens from government vehicles or church bells may be used to signal the start of activities.
* All sectors, including government offices, schools, workplaces, business establishments, and households, are mandated to participate.
* The clean-up operations will focus on removing mosquito breeding sites such as water-holding containers, including buckets, tires, flower pots, bottles, roofing gutters, drums, and tubs.
* The City/Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices (C/MENRO) will lead the implementation through their Solid Waste Management Program.
* The City/Municipal Health Offices (C/MHO), through their Health Education and Promotions Officers (HEPOs), will conduct information dissemination, while their Dengue Program Coordinators will coordinate efforts with local offices, schools, and barangays.
* The Provincial School Board will ensure participation of schools through the City/Municipal Anti-Dengue Task Forces.
The campaign also includes larval surveillance and entomological surveys, with mosquito larvae collected and analyzed to inform targeted interventions, including Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) or fogging. A follow-up survey will be conducted two weeks after any intervention. If mosquito populations remain high, additional control measures will be implemented.
To ensure sustained community engagement, the program will be integrated into various government initiatives such as:
* Women’s Month
* Solid Waste Management Program
* Semana sang Iloilo
* Brigada Eskwela
* Barangay Clean and Green Program
* Cash-for-Work Programs
Compliance will be monitored by the City/Municipal Anti-Dengue Task Forces, while Barangay Anti-Dengue Task Forces will oversee household-level participation and encourage full community involvement.
Municipalities with the highest dengue cases (over 20) so far this year are San Joaquin (85), Oton (70 with one death), Leon ( 66), Cabatuan ( 51), Dumangas –(50), San Dionisio ( 47), Lambunao (40), Janiuay (37), Banate (36), Ajuy (35), Barotac Viejo (31), Pavia (31), Sara (30), Concepcion (30), Estancia (28), Pototan (28 with two deaths), Maasin (27), Tigbauan (27, 1 death), Calinog (26), Guimbal (26), Carles (23 with two deaths), Passi City (21), Barotac Nuevo (21), Miag-ao (21), Batad (21), and Santa Barbara (21).
Other areas with cases are San Miguel (19), Dingle (18), Badiangan (16), Balasan (14 with one death), San Rafael (13), Leganes (13), Dueñas (13), Tubungan (12), Anilao (11), Alimodian (11), Lemery (11), Mina (10), Zarraga (9), San Enrique (9), Igbaras (8), New Lucena (6), and Bingawan (4)./PN
