By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

According to the Provincial Health Office (PHO), the number of dengue deaths this year has more than doubled from the same period last year.
Based on a recent report, there have been 11 dengue-related deaths between January and June of this year, up from five recorded in the same period last year.
Despite the rise in dengue deaths, the PHO notes, the overall number of cases has dropped by 16 percent, down to 933 cases from 1,100 last year.
San Carlos City posted both the highest number of fatalities, three, and overcall cases, 193.
Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, said they are creating a dengue review team to study why the number of deaths has increased this year when the number of cases has gone down.
He explained they will devise more effective methods in order to minimize deaths due to dengue.
The PHO chief also encouraged local residents to do their part by cleaning their surroundings.
Tumimbang noted, the information was also forwarded to Negros Occidental Governor Alfredo Marañon, Jr., along with the recommendation to form the dengue review team./WDJ