The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) passed a resolution recommending the declaration of the Province of Iloilo under a state of calamity due to the rising cases of dengue.

During the PDRRMC special meeting on August 15, 2024, at the Casa Real de Iloilo, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office chief Cornelio Salinas said the province of Iloilo met the criteria of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for the declaration of a state of calamity.

One is when there is an extremely high incidence of a certain disease, whether communicable or non-communicable disease within a community at a specific time, specific health-related behaviour, or other health-related events clearly beyond normal expectancy.

Another is when two or more municipalities or cities are affected by a disaster, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, upon the recommendation of the Provincial DRRM Council, may declare the entire province under a state of calamity.

Three municipalities (Passi City, Miagao, and Tigbauan) have already placed their areas under a state of calamity while the municipality of Badiangan has declared a dengue outbreak.

Data from the Provincial Health Office showed a total of 4,595 cases in the province as of August 10, 2024, including 10 deaths.

Forty-one of the 43 LGUs (except Banate and Tubungan) also breached the epidemic threshold which refers to the level of occurrence of disease above which an urgent response is required.

Thirty-six municipalities recorded clustering of dengue cases by barangay.

The PDRRMC resolution will be submitted to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for their approval and official declaration. (Capitol News)

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