The city council approved on first reading Baguio’s proposed consolidated anti-dengue ordinance.
Under the proposed measure authored by Councilor Betty Lourdes F. Tabanda, all residents are required to participate in the fight against dengue.
The measure aims to include the consolidation and unification of all legislations to mitigate the occurrence of dengue cases in the city through integrated vector management; reduction of morbidity and mortality rate of dengue to a level where it will no longer be a public health problem; and prevention and control of transmission of dengue and other diseases from the mosquito vector to man.
The ordinance created the Baguio City Anti-Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya committee which will be composed of the city mayor as chairperson and the City Health Officer as action officer.
Members of the committee are the chairperson of the city council committee on health and sanitation, ecology and environmental protection; president of the Association of Barangay Councils; City Building Official; City Engineer; City Environment and Parks Management Officer; City General Services Officer; City Legal Officer; City Social Welfare and Development Officer; City Public Information Officer; City Treasurer; Director of the Baguio City Police Office; Special Services Division of the City Mayor’s Office as secretariat; City Public Order and Safety Division; and the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Members from the national government offices are those from the departments of Health, Education-City Schools Division, Interior and Local Government-Baguio, Public Works and Highways-Baguio City District Engineering Office, and the Philippine Information Agency.
The ordinance prohibits storing water in containers that are not tightly or properly covered; keeping and sorting water filled vases and using ornamental plants with pot saucer and exiled plants for a longer period of time; keeping or having discarded tires; keeping or having artificial or man-made containers, including natural containers that serve as breeding sites of mosquitoes; and conducting chemical control methods without clearance from the DOH or CHSO.
Violators will render community service for three days at the barangay where the violation was made on first offense; pay P1,000 and conduct of community service for three days at the barangay where the violation was made on second offense; and a fine of P3,000 and/or imprisonment of two days at the discretion of the court and revocation of business permit of the violator is an earring establishment on third and succeeding offenses. – PIO release
