Bulacan Declares State of Calamity Due to Dengue

Malolos City, Bulacan (PNA) — The provincial government of Bulacan on Wednesday placed the province under state of calamity due to the alarming increase of dengue cases.

Through the Panlalawigang Kapasyahan Blg. 308-T’15, “Kapasyahan na nagpapahayag na ang Bulacan ay nasa ilalim ng state of calamity upang matugunan aang paglaganap ng sakit na dengue sa lalawigan,” Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado declared, saying that the provincial government will allocate PHP39 million calamity fund to prevent the continuous rise of dengue cases in the province.

Aside from the free hospitalization and medication to dengue patients, Alvarado also said that dengue express lanes will be provided in all hospitals run by the provincial government.

Based on the record of the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU), as of September 30, there are 4,771 cases of dengue reported in the province since January with 11 fatalities.

The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically and has a cumulative increase of 230 percent compared to last year’s statistics which was 1,342.

Children who are 11-20 yrs. old has the most number of dengue cases with 38.8 percent.

The municipalities and cities with the highest number of dengue cases are City of San Jose Del Monte with 615 cases, Sta Maria with 409 cases, San Rafael with 401, Bustos with 329 and San Miguel with 278.

Meanwhile, the provincial government is continuously intensifying the province-wide information drive to educate the public on how to prevent dengue, to promote the 4’o clock habit against dengue and to encourage them to join the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue activity of their respective barangays. (PNA) FFC/ZST/PS