04/06/2026
La Carlota City turns to community cleanups as dengue cases reach 83
by La Carlota City PIO
LA CARLOTA CITY, June 4 — Local officials and health coordinators convened at the Liga Hall on June 4 to address a surge in dengue cases, emphasizing community cleanup drives and individual household responsibility.
The meeting of the Liga ng mga Barangay–La Carlota was presided over by Liga Vice President and Barangay II Punong Barangay Jervy Advincula. Discussions focused on shifting public reliance away from chemical fogging toward active vector elimination.
From January 4 to May 30, 2026, La Carlota City recorded 83 dengue cases. Barangay La Granja logged the highest volume with 16 cases, while other local villages reported between three and nine cases. Barangay Yubo recorded zero cases during the period. The city registered 226 total cases in 2025.
City Dengue Coordinator Ressan Garcia reported that elevated seasonal temperatures have accelerated mosquito breeding cycles. Garcia identified vacant lots and unmanaged containers—including drums, tarpaulins, rain gutters, and discarded tires—as primary breeding sites.
Dr. Erwina Frances Jalandoni, a city health physician and dengue survivor, noted that chemical fogging only impacts adult mosquito populations while leaving eggs and larvae viable. Jalandoni recommended immediate entomological testing to map high-risk areas and advised residents to exercise heightened caution during peak mosquito biting hours, which occur from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. and around 4 p.m.
Health authorities urged strict adherence to the Department of Health's "4S" strategy: searching and destroying breeding places, securing self-protection, seeking early medical consultation, and supporting localized fogging only in verified hotspot zones.
To enforce these measures, the council outlined plans to utilize the weekly BarKaDa (Barangay at Kalinisan Day) initiative, a nationwide community cleanup program led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
The campaign will deploy local officials for house-to-house inspections and roving loudspeaker announcements, known locally as rekurida, to educate Mangkasanons on proper waste management and vector control. Planned sanitation operations include canal dredging, draining stagnant water, clearing brush, and removing physical breeding hazards.
The mobilization coincides with June's designation as National Dengue Awareness Month.