Amid the ongoing “state of calamity” in Iloilo City with regard to dengue fever, Mayor Jerry P. Treñas said the city will require P3 million in order to fund more medical personnel.
“We need P3 million, or P1 million a month, to pay for the services of [an] additional 10 doctors, 78 nurses, and 12 medical technologists [in order] to cater to increasing dengue patients and address the alarming health problem,” he explained.
When a calamity is declared, the city government can access P34 million in a quick response fund, along with a P5 million maintenance and other operating expense trust fund.
Immediately following the declaration, the mayor earlier indicated, “We don’t know yet how much it will take but I promise that we will only spend what is needed.”
Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson previously confirmed the Provincial Health Office recommended a “state of calamity” be declared due to the rising number of dengue-related cases in the province.
In response, the governor said the province overall is still at an “alert” level and not an “epidemic,” and urged the public to continue cleaning their surroundings in order to control the spread of dengue fever./WDJ