Bagong Henerasyon Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera (Facebook)

Citing the pressing need to fight dengue fever, Bagong Henerasyon (BH) Party-list Rep. Bernadette Herrera has led the turnover of anti-dengue misting or fogging machines to the Quezon City government. 

Also turned over during the simple ceremony Monday, April 8 were a P500,000 cash donation and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program funds worth P3 million. 

“Kailangang sugpuin natin [ang dengue], kailangang labanan natin ito...Narito po kami para i-turn over ang anti-dengue machines sa ating city health department,” said Herrera, who was accompanied by Rotary District 3780 Governor Paul Angel Galang and past president Robert Nazal. 

(We need to eradicate dengue, we need to fight it...we are here to turn over the anti-dengue machines to our city health department.) 

Also joining the turn over rites was Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. 

The fogging machines, which were designed to shoo away dengue-carrying mosquitos, came from Rotary Club of Kyoto Higashiyama in Japan. 

The event held special significance for Herrera, who previously served as a councilor for nine years under the tenure of the incumbent mayor’s father, Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte Jr., who later became Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Herrera's brother, Bernard, currently serves as a councilor representing the city's first district. 

Herrera reminisced about her 23 years of public service at Quezon City Hall, and highlighted her role in launching impactful programs including the "computer-on-wheels," mobile clinic, "skills-on-wheels," and scholarships from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). 

The House deputy minority leader discussed the need for proactive action against dengue fever, which she said were on the rise in Quezon City. 

In the first three months of 2024, there were 998 dengue cases in the city, up from 721 cases in all of 2023. Two people have already died from the disease this year, compared to one last year.