With a “state of calamity” declared in Iloilo City regarding the rising number of dengue-related cases, the Sangguniang Panglungsod passed a resolution calling on the Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to suspend the requirement for students to wear school uniforms in an effort to provide protection from the virus.
According to City Councilor Lyndon Acap, who authored the resolution, there was an earlier order issued by DepEd making the uniform policy optional; however, the policy was introduced as a means of avoiding confusion.
“I talked with some of the principals diri sa city, optional gid man ang uniform subong; pero para ma-avoid na gid ang confusion, mas maayo na lang na ang i-order na lang nila nga i-declare nga amo na (suspended) para once and for all (I spoke with some principals in the city who affirmed that uniforms were indeed optional; but, in order to avoid confusion, it is better to declare the uniform policy suspended),” he explained.
A National Public Radio article discussed the type of clothes to wear in order to avoid mosquito bites. The piece cited Dr. Jorge Rey, interim director for the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, who suggested long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Meanwhile, Stacey Rodriguez, an author of a study published in the Journal of Insect Science, said to avoid sandals and to opt for shoes and socks; and suggesting, if necessary, to tuck pant cuffs into socks in order to prevent mosquitoes from entering.
In addition, an article in UK publication The Telegraph also notes, “Dark or brightly-colored clothing makes you more visible to mosquitoes.”
“It is best to dress in white or light colours; khaki, beige, and olive do not attract the insects,” the article added.
As of July 30, a total of 1, 150 dengue-related cases have been recorded in the city, along with nine deaths./WDJ