3 Capiz towns under state of calamity due to dengue

By: Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Three municipalities of Capiz were placed under state of calamity due to the upsurge in dengue cases.

The first town to make the declaration was Pontevedra with 200 dengue cases. It was followed by Pres. Roxas (156 cases) and Sigma (197 cases).

According to Sigma Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Esperidion Pelaez, the local government can now use its calamity fund for the intensification campaign against dengue.

Pelaez was the former provincial chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office in Capiz prior to his election as town councilor.

Earlier, Governor Esteban Evan Contreras declared a dengue outbreak in the entire province.

Based on data from the Provincial Health Office and Department of Health-Capiz, dengue cases surged by 988% to 4,200 cases with 18 deaths from January to July this year.