By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

After the Negros Occidental Provincial Health Office (PHO) previously recommended a “state of calamity” declaration due to the rising number of dengue-related cases in the province, the office has since affirmed recommending declaring dengue outbreaks for five Negros Occidental localities.
PHO head, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, identified the areas of concern as Kabankalan City, Bago City, Cauayan, Murcia, and Candoni.
According to data gathered between January 1 and July 13 of this year, they have recorded 3,744 dengue-related cases in the province.
Kabankalan City currently tops the list with the most dengue cases with 490, followed by Bago City with 285.
In response to the earlier “state of calamity” recommendation, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the province overall is still at an “alert” level and not an “epidemic.”
The governor also urged the public to continue cleaning their surroundings in order to control the spread of dengue fever.
Lacson has earlier issued an executive order declaring a heightened alert status./DGB, WDJ