In response to a rising number of dengue cases, a barangay in Mandaluyong City has launched a community-driven initiative aimed at reducing the spread of the disease.
The program, called “May Piso sa Mosquito” (Peso for Mosquitoes), invites residents to capture mosquitoes and larvae to help eliminate the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, known carriers of the virus.
Barangay Addition Hills Captain Carlito Cerlan believes that while some may see the initiative as risky due to the potential exposure to mosquitoes, the key is that the mosquitoes don’t need to be alive.
How the Program Works
Residents can bring dead or alive mosquitoes, or larvae (known locally as kiti-kiti), to the barangay in exchange for one peso for every five mosquitoes or larvae they bring in.
Live mosquitoes will be placed in a chamber with a mosquito zapper, while the larvae will be killed using chemicals.
Cerlan emphasized that this is a temporary measure to engage the community in efforts to control the mosquito population and reduce dengue cases.
“This program won’t last forever. While dengue cases remain high, this is one of the alternatives we are using. Once the City Health Office reports that cases have declined, we will discontinue it,” he explained.
The Piso sa Mosquito program is modeled after another successful initiative in the area, “Palit Basura para sa Pagkain sa Lamesa” (Exchange Trash for Food), which encouraged residents to take plastic sachets off the streets in exchange for rice.
Cerlan acknowledged, however, that keeping clean surroundings is the most effective long-term solution for mosquito control. This includes minimizing garbage and preventing stagnant water that serves as mosquito breeding grounds.
Only adults aged 18 and above are allowed to participate to reduce the risk of exposure for children and teenagers.
Last January, Barangay Addition Hills reported 44 dengue cases, including two fatalities.
DOH Monitors Other LGUs for Dengue Rise
The Department of Health (DOH) is also monitoring eight other local government units (LGUs) in Calabarzon, Central Luzon, and the National Capital Region due to a significant increase in dengue cases.
Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo, in an interview with ANC’s Dateline Philippines, urged local governments to declare outbreaks if necessary, to ensure they are responding to the rise in cases.
“Declaring an outbreak is not a cause for alarm. It just means that the local government acknowledges the increase in cases and is taking action,” Domingo said.
On Saturday, Quezon City declared a dengue outbreak after reporting 1,769 cases between January 1 and February 14, nearly triple the number of cases compared to the same period last year.
Domingo stressed the importance of early consultation if symptoms of dengue, such as high fever and headache, appear. He also noted that severe symptoms like bleeding gums and changes in stool color typically appear later in the illness.
While the surge in cases at the start of the year has been linked to climate change, dengue remains endemic in the Philippines.
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