Iloilo capitol to distribute P9.1 million in dengue aid

By Mariela Angella Oladive

The Iloilo provincial government is set to release P9.1 million in financial assistance to 42 municipalities and Passi City to help control the ongoing dengue outbreak.

Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. formalized the release by signing a memorandum of agreement with the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP-Iloilo) during an emergency meeting on September 4.

The allocation, provided under Executive Order No. 184 signed on August 21, follows the declaration of a state of calamity on August 20 due to the rising number of dengue cases.

The funds will be distributed based on population size, with larger local government units (LGUs) such as Cabatuan, Calinog, and Passi City each receiving P300,000.

Mid-sized municipalities will receive P200,000, while smaller towns will receive P100,000.

The assistance will support dengue vector control initiatives, including the purchase of larvicides, adulticides, and equipment for indoor residual spraying (IRS) and fogging. It can also be used for public awareness campaigns and medical supplies.

LMP-Iloilo Executive Vice President and Badiangan Mayor Suzette Mamon confirmed that the funds would be released directly to the LGUs to ensure the immediate implementation of dengue prevention measures.

“We have submitted our MOA signed with all the requirements. After the submission, the Provincial Health Office will process the funds, and we will wait for the release through checks directly to the municipalities,” Mamon said.

LGUs are required to fully utilize the funds by December 31 or return any unspent amounts to the provincial government.

The executive order emphasizes the need for coordinated efforts among LGUs to ensure effective management of the dengue outbreak through data consolidation and timely reporting.

From January 1 to August 31, Iloilo province recorded 7,814 dengue cases, including 21 deaths—a dramatic 561.1 percent increase compared to last year’s total of 1,182 cases.

The surge has affected 419 barangays, with nine identified as hotspots due to clustering of cases or dengue-related fatalities.

Clustering is defined as three or more cases within four consecutive weeks.

As of September 5, the Provincial Health Management Office reported 163 current dengue patients across the province.

The total number of available hospital beds is 1,299, with an overall bed occupancy rate of 86.37 percent.

The Iloilo Provincial Health Office continues to urge residents to adhere to the 4S campaign against dengue: “Search and Destroy” mosquito breeding sites, “Secure Self Protection” from mosquito bites, “Seek Early Consultation” for symptoms, and “Say Yes to Fogging” during outbreaks.