Bong Go calls for community vigilance as dengue cases rise
Reelectionist Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged Filipinos to stay vigilant as the number of dengue cases surge across the Philippines.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, also urged local officials and the public to intensify their efforts to prevent the spread of the mosquito-borne disease.
The Department of Health (DOH) has reported a 40 percent increase in dengue cases compared to last year, with over 28,000 cases recorded as of February 1.
The spike has been particularly alarming in urban centers, with Quezon City declaring an outbreak after recording 10 deaths among 1,769 cases.
“Paalala ko po sa ating mga barangay officials—nasa inyo po ‘yung unang tugon ng gobyerno at unang pagseserbisyo, lalung-lalo na po ngayon na tumataas ang cases ng dengue sa buong Pilipinas (A reminder to our barangay officials—the government's first response and first service is up to you, especially now that dengue cases are increasing all over the Philippines),” said Go, during an ambush interview in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
The Partido ng Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial candidate also urged Filipinos to keep their surroundings clean and seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
He also underscored the necessity of following the DOH’s 5S strategy against dengue, starting with search and destroy, which involves eliminating mosquito breeding sites.
“Secure self-protection. Ibig sabihin, dapat po protektado tayo para hindi tayo makakagat (which means, we should all be protected so we could not be bitten by mosquitoes),” he said.