(Barangay Alion chair Al Balan hands out a kilo of commercial rice to a resident who presented mosquitoes under the “200 lamok kapalit isang kilong bigas” program. Photo by Ernie Esconde)
MARIVELES, Bataan — An upland village here on Monday launched its unique program of catching mosquitoes with the use of cooking oil in exchange for rice to eradicate dengue.
Barangay Alion chair Marcialito “Al” Balan named the program as “200 lamok kapalit isang kilong bigas,” in support of their search and destroy drive against dengue-carrying mosquitoes.
“Unang-una pa rin ang paglilinis, pangalawa itong panghuhuli ng lamok. At least mababawasan ang lamok sa amin,” Balan said, adding that “hindi natin alam na baka carrier ng dengue ang mahuhuling lamok.”
He explained that “moving left and right a plate or basin with used cooking oil, mosquitoes will be caught easily.” When presented to the barangay hall, every 200 mosquitoes will be rewarded with a kilo of commercial rice.
Marilyn Podol was the first beneficiary of the program when she presented a plateful of mosquitoes and got a kilo of rice in return.
“Patuloy akong manghuhuli para maubos ang lamok,” she said.
Barangay tanods in colorful uniform said they will be hunting the mosquitoes.
Balan said there was only a single case of dengue Alion that was even contracted in another village. He said there are more than 5,000 people in their village.
“Sana suportahan ng lahat ang programa para patuloy na mawalan ng kaso ng dengue sa aming barangay,” the village head said.