The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered local government units (LGUs) nationwide to further enhance their dengue prevention and control measures in the barangays in the aftermath of the series of typhoons and flooding that made parts of the country vulnerable to mosquito-borne diseases.

In a statement, the DILG explained that the directive is in line with the marching orders of President Ferdinand “Bongbong’’ Marcos, Jr. for the government agencies and LGUs to step-up the community protection and control measures against dengue.

“Ngayong panahon ng baha at bagyo, mas lalong nagiging delikado ang ating mga komunidad sa dengue. Ang simpleng stagnant water, gulong, o container ay maaaring maging pugad ng lamok. Kaya’t mahalaga ang sama-samang aksyon ng barangay at komunidad upang mapanatiling ligtas ang ating mga pamilya (In these times of flooding and typhoon, it is far more dangerous for the communities to be afflicted with dengue. The simple stagnant water in tires or containers may be the breeding nest of mosquitos.  That is why a unified action among the barangays and communities is very important to maintain the safety of our families),’’ the DILG stated.

DILG Memorandum Circular 2025-011 instructs the LGUs to enforce community-wide stringent interventions against dengue. 

“These include clean-up drives focused on eliminating mosquito breeding sites, search-and-destroy operations to remove stagnant water and containers in households and public spaces, and regular declogging of canals and drainage systems to prevent water pooling and flooding,’’ it added.

The DILG also noted that the circular also urged the LGUs to integrate dengue prevention into their disaster response activities, given that flooding after typhoons creates conditions where mosquitoes thrive.

Further, the DILG asserted that the fight against dengue is a shared responsibility between the government and the community.

“Ang laban kontra dengue ay hindi lamang responsibilidad ng pamahalaan, kundi ng bawat isa sa atin. Kapag naglinis ang barangay, maglinis din ang bawat tahanan. Kapag nagtulungan, mas ligtas ang lahat (The fight against dengue is not only the responsibility of the government, but each of us. If the barangays conduct a cleaning activity, the residents will follow suit),’’ the DILG said.

To support these efforts, the DILG pointed out that the LGUs must allocate sufficient financial and logistical resources for vector control. 

“This includes the procurement of larvicides and insecticides, and the mobilization of barangay health workers and volunteers to carry out outreach and information campaigns,’’ the DILG added.

The DILG also called on the public to cooperate by keeping their surroundings clean and immediately seeking medical attention if dengue symptoms appear.