Makati City Mayor Abby Binay on Tuesday, August 8, said the city government is fully prepared for the rainy days and the expected seasonal diseases.
Makati City Mayor Abby Binay
She assured Makatizens of their safety and welfare in case of flooding and other emergencies by investing on state-of-the-art equipment such as mobile command center, mobile kitchen, mobile showers, and other necessary disaster response and rescue equipment that can be used for the rescue and evacuation of residents when the need arises.
She also reminded her constituents on the different diseases that the rainy season brings.
"Ang gusto ko sanang ipaalala sa lahat ay ang personal ninyong pag-iingat dahil maraming sakit ang puwedeng makuha kapag maulan. Isa na rito ang leptospirosis na karaniwang kumakalat sa pamamagitan ng mga ihi at dumi ng mga daga. May ibang uri ng mga hayop na maaari ring maging carrier ng sakit na leptospirosis, pero pinakamadalas itong nakukuha kapag humalo ang ihi ng infected na daga sa tubig baha (I would like to remind everyone to take care of themselves because a lot of diseases spread during the rainy season. One of these is leptospirosis which is spread through direct contact with the urine and feces of rats. There are other kinds of animals that could carry the said disease, but most of the time, leptospirosis is contracted when the urine of infected rats mix with flood water)," Binay explained.
"Kapag lumusong ka at ikaw ay may sugat, kahit papagaling na, puwede ka pa ring magkaroon ng leptospirosis. Bagamat nagagamot ang sakit na ito, mas mabuti pa ring iwasan ang pagkakasakit—lalo na ang mga senior at bata (When you wade through floodwater and you have an open wound that is already healing, it is still possible for you to contract leptospirosis. Despite the cure for this disease, it's better to avoid exposing yourself to leptospirosis especially if you are a senior citizen or a child)," she added.
The mayor urged parents and guardians of Makatizen children to prevent them from going outside their homes when there is flooding in their area.
"Kung hindi maiiwasan o talagang kinakailangan, magdoble ingat po at magsuot ng bota bilang proteksiyon (If it could not be prevented, please take double caution and wear boots when going through flooded areas)," Binay stressed.
Another disease the LGU is strictly monitoring is dengue which comes from mosquitoes and could lead to death when not treated immediately.
"Matagal na tayong may mga programa laban sa dengue sa mga komunidad. Bukod sa regular na paglilinis ay nagkakaroon din tayo ng paglalatag ng ovi traps para hindi na dumami ang mga lamok. Mayroon din tayong misting o fogging activities para mamatay ang mga lamok, lalo na sa matataong lugar (We already have programs being implemented in our communities against dengue. Aside from regular clean-up drives, we have also installed ovi traps to prevent the proliferation of mosquitoes. We also conduct regular misting and fogging activities to kill mosquitoes in high density areas)," Binay said.
Ovi-larvi traps attract egg-laying female mosquitoes and kill their eggs and larvae.
Binay reminded Makatizens to regularly clean their homes and remove stagnant water after the rains. She also urged them to dispose of old tires and garden decorations that could become a nest for mosquitoes.
The city government also distributed anti-dengue kits to its students to educate them on preventive measures against the disease.
Each kit contains a 250ml mosquito repellent lotion and a wrist band with four citronella capsules that last up to three months per piece.
Binay had earlier urged the public to implement the “4S” strategy in their houses, campuses, and offices to prevent mosquito-borne diseases.
The 4S strategy involves searching and destroying mosquito-breeding sites, securing self-protection measures (use of insect repellent sprays/lotions, long sleeve shirts, and long pants), seeking early consultation, and supporting fogging and spraying in hotspot places.
Aside from dengue kits, the city government also distributed boots and raincoats to its learners to ensure their protection from the bad weather.
"Suklian po sana natin ito ng kooperasyon at malasakit. Maging concerned po tayo sa ating paligid, at tumulong sa efforts ng komunidad para maiwasan ang pagbaha. Sa simpleng paraan malaki po ang ating maitutulong para panatilihing ligtas at malusog ang lahat (Let's all continue to give back to the LGU through cooperation. Let's be concerned about our surroundings and try to help in the communities' efforts to avoid flooding. This will be a big factor in ensuring the safety and health of everyone)," the mayor stressed.