Senator Loren Legarda called on local government agencies to exercise best practices to help bring down dengue cases in the country.
Legarda, the author of the National Environmental Awareness Education and the author and principal sponsor of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, expressed alarm due to the unsettling increase in dengue cases this year.
“We call on our citizens, local government units, and landfill operators to take proactive measures in reducing mosquito populations by maintaining cleanliness in their areas and ensuring proper waste management and disposal,” the veteran legislator said.
It is essential to eliminate stagnant water sources and properly dispose of trash to prevent disease outbreaks.”
“Poorly managed waste, especially during the rainy season, can collect water and become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. It is essential to eliminate stagnant water sources and properly dispose of trash to prevent disease outbreaks,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
The lady senator also called on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to properly implement the Philippine Clean Water Act, another law she authored, which designates water quality management areas, with local government units manning the board.
“Improper water handling can harm public health, leading to illnesses such as dengue.”
She emphasized that improper water handling can harm public health, leading to illnesses such as dengue. Legarda also said that the board should implement strategies and policies to improve and maintain its respective sewerage or septage program and ensure a clean water supply.
“Environmental education should be taught in a way that environmental concepts and principles, environmental laws, the state of international and local environment, as well as local environmental best practices should be followed,” she remarked.
“We must make citizens aware of their responsibility to protect and conserve the environment, as well as rehabilitating natural resources and make it sustainable,” Legarda added.
Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak last February 15 after a steep rise in cases–almost 1,800 cases in 2025–an almost 200% increase year-on-year. Of the cases, there had been 10 recorded fatalities, with eight being minors.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), aside from Quezon City, eight other areas in the country may declare a dengue outbreak due to a significant rise in cases.
These areas are from Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and the National Capital Region.
Across the archipelago, there have been over 43,000 recorded cases as of February 15, a 56% increase from last year, according to the DOH.
