THE VILLAGE of San Fernando in Sicogon Island, which is under the town of Carles in Iloilo, has been placed under a state of calamity due to a sudden spike in the number of dengue cases. Julieto A. Manggasang of the Carles Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) said the increase started on May 14 with two children admitted to a hospital for dengue. “Since then, cases have been rising,” he said in a phone interview on Saturday. San Fernando, with a population of over 1,000, is one of the three barangays in Sigocon Island where Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) is developing a tourism estate. “The affected population are mostly school children aged 18 and below. They were admitted to the to Jesus M. Colmenares Memorial District Hospital in Balasan, Iloilo while the critical cases were brought to West Visayas Medical Center,” Mr. Manggasang said. The declaration of a state of calamity gives the barangay access to emergency funds to address the situation. Mr. Manggasang said the municipal government and barangay officials, with assistance from ALI, are working together to conduct clean-up drives and spraying activities to combat mosquito breeding sites. — Emme Rose Santiagudo

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR