The City of Parañaque is back in the news but not in a very ideal way. Rather news about the city are depressing as the City Government declared a state of calamity due to a rise of dengue cases. According to the City Government’s own health department, one thousand seven hundred and two cases of dengue were recorded for the period of January 1 to September 14 this year.

Think about it. 1,702 dengue cases in the city versus 1,174 cases in the city in the same period a year ago. That’s a jump of 44.97% in difference! That’s really sad news and no amount of diversion publicity, beauty pageants, careless journalism and showing off can take people’s minds off that. With its 1,702 dengue cases, Parañaque is now the 4^th highest ranking city in terms of dengue cases among cities in the National Capital Region (NCR).

My sources at City Hall told me that their health department has been working to solve the problems. City Councilor Wahoo Sotto, meanwhile, has been going around the city informing people about dengue, what the facts are and what are the myths hounding people from realizing the facts. He recently visited Parañaque Elementary School Central and, as the guest of honor, he spoke about the dangers of dengue and what can be done to deal with it.

Going back to the City Government, the declaration of a state of calamity would allow officials of barangays (communities) in the city to release funds to boost the campaign against the disease. The city has a total of sixteen barangays and the most notable among them all is Barangay BF Homes which is led by chairman Paolo Marquez. Already the barangay took action against dengue.

For you, my readers as well as residents and stakeholders in Barangay BF Homes, I contacted captain Marquez directly for his views about the campaign against dengue. I asked him about the City Government’s support for the barangay regarding dengue prevention. His answer below.

“Yes, somehow the City Government provided assistance to us to minimize dengue,” said Captain Marquez. “However, we cannot just depend on them since we have to do whatever is necessary to minimize it.”

The barangay chief further stated that their fogging (fumigation by means of machine-generated fog to disinfect areas) and information campaigns about dengue has been done for some time already (even before the City’s state of calamity declaration was done) and they will continue to perform and serve until the epidemic dies down.

Of course, Barangay BF Homes is working even harder and making the hard adjustments.

“I’m recently acquiring additional chemical solutions as I anticipate this will go on for quite some time. I’m now looking also in the feasibility of acquiring additional machines to do the job, plus the fact that water-based misting has been rendered ineffective due to rain,” he said.

When Marquez mentioned misting, that instantly reminded me of the community wide misting service performed by the Tahanan Homeowners Association (THA) for the residents in Tahanan Village over at least the past few years. Misting is fumigation by means of liquid spray. I personally witnessed misting in the village.

Back to Barangay BF Homes, captain Marquez said he is focused on thermal fogging machines which, he believes, are effective and can protect the community from dengue even further.

As of this writing, it has been confirmed that Barangay BF Homes personnel have been doing fogging operations around the community. They have done it on key areas of depressed communities (or mission sites) and also in private subdivisions like BF NorthWest. The barangay itself is open to requests for services related to dengue prevention. You want your residential community or establishment to be cleared of dengue mosquitoes? Visit barangay hall along Elsie Gatches street as soon as possible.

Right now, the officials of the three cities of South Metro Manila – Parañaque, Las Piñas and Muntinlupa – are performing their respective duties on preventing dengue infections among the constituents, informing people to be knowledgeable about the dreaded disease. Of course, the City Governments and barangay units cannot do the tasks alone as they need help from the constituents. Did you spot a particular location near your residence that could be a potential breeding ground for dengue mosquitoes? Call the local authorities immediately.

For those of you who know someone who is already infected and suffering from dengue fever, take time out to read my article about the use of papaya leaf juice as a remedy. I did not write that piece out of the blue. Rather, a certain scientist I met during the networking night of the Israel Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ICCP) encouraged me to do a research on papaya leaf juice as the cure for dengue fever.

Dengue is a national problem here in the Philippines right now. Beware of bites from dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

For more updates on Barangay BF Homes and South Metro Manila, come back here.

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