NEW STATE OF CALAMITY. The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council recommends placing Iloilo province under a state of calamity due to increasing cases of dengue, during its special meeting at the provincial capitol on Thursday (Aug. 15, 2024). The province, from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10, recorded 4,595 cases with 10 fatalities, higher by 319. 6 percent year on year. (Photo courtesy of Balita Halin sa Kapitolyo)
ILOILO CITY – The Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDDRMC) has recommended placing Iloilo province under a state of calamity as dengue cases continue to spike.
In a special meeting Thursday afternoon, the PDRRMC adopted the resolution upon determining that Iloilo passed the criteria of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) for the declaration.
“Three local government units have already declared a state of calamity, which are the municipalities of Tigbauan, Miagao, and Passi City. We will pass the resolution to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board) for subsequent declaration of the entire province under the state of calamity,” PDRRM Office head, Cornelio Salinas, said in an interview.
The municipality of Badiangan earlier declared a dengue outbreak.
Salinas said the declaration would allow LGUs to use their quick response fund (QRF) for their mitigation intervention with augmentation.
The governor has the discretion to provide the province’s PDDRM QRF or only share a counterpart.
“Local government units have their source of funds after the declaration of the state of calamity. If you look at it, while we have a dengue outbreak, we also have to consider upcoming disasters like the La Niña,” Salinas said.
For 2024, the province has PHP61 million in QRF. Based on its plan, it can use the QRF for drugs, medicine, dental, and laboratory expenses during a health outbreak.
From Jan. 1 until Aug. 10, Iloilo province recorded 4,595 cases of dengue fever, with 10 deaths, higher by 319.6 percent than in the same period last year, when it logged 1,095 cases, with one death.
Further, 41 of the 43 LGUs breached the epidemic threshold, and 268 barangays have a clustering of cases.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expected to tackle the declaration during their regular session on Aug. 20.
Salinas added that the province has yet to lift its state of calamity declaration due to the El Niño phenomenon. (PNA)
