The Bacolod City Health Office’s (CHO) Environment Sanitation Division reiterated that communities must not lower their guard and should consistently practice measures to prevent dengue transmission.
Medical doctor Grace Tan, head of the City Environment Sanitation Division, during her engagement at a media roundtable event at Bacolod City College, which was likewise echoed by campaign partners from the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Takeda Healthcare Philippines.
Data from the Department of Health’s (DOH) Bacolod City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit showed a significant drop in dengue cases in the city.
From January 5, 2025, to January 3, 2026, the city recorded 1,040 cases, which is 60.4 percent lower than the 2,624 cases logged during the same period the previous year.
Despite the decline, Tan noted that dengue-related deaths continue to be recorded, warning that severe dengue and fatal outcomes remain possible even when transmission is lower.
“While reported dengue cases this year are significantly lower than last year, that doesn’t mean we should be complacent and assume that it is no longer a problem,” the state doctor said.
“Our city has experienced dengue surges before, and we should do our best to keep it from happening again,” she added, noting that dengue continues to pose a public health challenge in many parts of the country, and coming together to prevent its spread is essential.
Joining her in the discussion were doctors Rachelle Vicencio and Alexis Milan of the PPS, who presented national updates on dengue.
They emphasized that dengue remains a leading cause of hospitalization among children in endemic countries like the Philippines.
The PPS doctors also warned that misinformation and reliance on unproven remedies can delay proper medical care, increasing the risk of complications and death, especially among young patients.
Enhanced vaccine
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, a Japanese pharmaceutical company, developed TAK-003, a second-generation vaccine against all four dengue viruses.
The previous first-generation dengue vaccine from another brand is no longer licensed and is recommended only for those with prior dengue infection. TAK-003 is included in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list of prequalified vaccines, although pending confirmation for compliance with international standards for quality and safety.
The vaccine has been authorized for use in 41 countries, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
In the Philippines, TAK-003 is currently under review by the Food and Drug Administration.
To date, around 20 million doses have already been distributed in 11 dengue-endemic countries.
“Hopefully, we can have the vaccine this year,” medical doctor Alexis Milan, PPS fellow, said.
Wider dengue campaign
The vaccine awareness and media roundtable forms part of a broader dengue advocacy campaign by the Bacolod City government to raise awareness on dengue prevention and management.
Such initiative complemented the DOH’s Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito campaign, which encourages families and communities to remove mosquito breeding sites.
Aside from vector control and early symptom detection, doctors Vicencio and Milan cautioned the public against unverified dengue remedies circulating online.
They specifically warned against using tawa-tawa or gatas-gatas as treatment, stressing that there is no scientific evidence to prove their effectiveness.
Vicencio added that the PPS has been working closely with health workers nationwide to strengthen frontline response against dengue.
“We’ve spoken with barangay health workers, with doctors, with nurses all over the Philippines and helped them enhance what they already know about dengue, and it’s amazing, especially our barangay health workers, because they really know what they are doing as frontliners,” Vicencio shared.
Milan likewise stressed the need for sustained community action.
“The goal is to achieve zero dengue-related deaths by 2030. So please help us achieve it,” Milan said. (PIA Negros Occidental)