South Cotabato is under the state of calamity due to dengue outbreak

The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotatabo declared the entire province under a State of Calamity due to dengue cases outbreak after it affected at least five municipalities that claimed at least 21 lives.
Based on the report submitted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council greatly affected are the municipalities of Surallah, Banga, Norala, Tantangan and Sto.Niño which have earlier declared their respective municipalities under the state of calamity.
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. earlier forwarded an indorsement to the SP certifying the declaration as urgent upon the recommendation of the PDRRMC.
The council proposes for the release of the Php5 million budget from its Php31 million Quick Response Fund for the purchase of necessary logistics such as the fogging and misting machines, other biologics and the conduct of information and education campaign, among others.
The Integrated Provincial Health Office also proposes for the purchase of a platelet separator which is one of the important equipment for dengue.
Jose Barroquillo, mosquito-borne disease program coordinator of the Integrated Provincial Health Office said back to back with this equipment, there is a need for the entire community to exercise the 4-S.
The 4-S campaign is one of the strategies to fight against dengue which stands for Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites, secure Self-protection measures by wearing long pants and long-sleeved shirts and daily use of mosquito repellent, Seek early consultation, and Support fogging/spraying only in hotspot areas.
Barroquillo said the fogging or misting operation should be done in four cycles and not only once to ensure the mosquitoes are wiped out.
The IPHO also reports that in the month of May to present dengue cases has reached the epidemic threshold with 3,484 cases of dengue reported by the Provincial Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (PESU) from January to July 13, 2019. This is 149% higher compared to the cases for the same period last year.
The resolution which was unanimously approved during the special session on its second and final reading on Friday was authored by Honorable Jinky P. Avance and co-authored by the entire August Body.
Served as resource persons during the special session aside from Baroquillo were Atty. Renette Bergado, Provincial Administrator and Acting PDRRMO; Assistant IPHO Dr. Allah Baby Vingno and Provincial Budget Officer Luz Perpetua Fontanilla.