(ANTI-DENGUE BATTLE. Lubao Mayor Esmeralda “Esmie” G. Pineda turns-over mist machines used to disperse mosquito-eradicating pesticide, to barangay officials in a bid to control the spread of dengue. Photo by Albert B. Lacanlale)
LUBAO, Pampanga—The league of barangays in this town forged a partnership with the local government unit here to combat dengue.
Mayor Esmeralda “Esmie” G. Pineda, along with Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Roland Sibug, on Friday distributed mist blowers, a machine to spray insecticides, to the town’s 44 barangays in a bid to eradicate dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
The barangay paid for the mist blowers, which are commercially sold for at least P55,000 each.
The LGU, for its part, purchased Leadfog, the pesticide used to control crawling and flying pests, at P8,000 per liter.
Jovy Ivan Matias, head of the Municipal Sanitation Office, explained that every liter of the pesticide can be diluted in at least 200 liters of water and two liters can cover an average-sized sitio.
The pesticide’s efficacy could last for a month in dry weather and can instantly kill mosquitoes.
The whole province of Pampanga has recorded a lower number of dengue cases this year compared to the previous year.
However, Mayor Pineda, in a statement, said that while the cases of dengue in the town is significantly lower compared to last year’s, the municipal government cannot take chances against dengue, which has downed hundreds of victims all over the country.
Even Barangay San Roque Arbol–which had 28 confirmed cases of dengue from January to August 17 in 2018; and, zero cases during the same period this year—has joined in the operation and purchased its own mist blower.
“Mahirap na. Di baling gumagastos tayo para maiwas ang ating mga kababayan kaysa gumagastos tayo dahil may mga nabibiktima na ng dengue,” the mayor explained of the purchase.
She said that the LGU hopes that their counterparts in other towns and provinces would follow suit in combating dengue.
“Hindi kasi natin masisiguro na tuluyan tayong ligtas sa dengue hangga’t may mga lugar na malapit sa atin na mayroon pa ring insidente ng sakit. Dahil madalas nang bumibiyahe ang mga tao, may pagkakataong sa ibang lugar nila nasasagap ang mga sakit na naiuuwi nila sa kanilang mga barangay,” the mayor added.
