The City Health Office (CHO) announced on Thursday that the citation tickets against violators of City Ordinance No. 0401-20, Series of 2020, or the Davao City Mosquito-Borne Diseases Prevention and Control Program are now available.
CHO Tropical Division Melodina Babante, during the I-Speak Media Forum on Thursday, said after a year of information and dissemination drive for the implementation of the ordinance, its penalty clause will now be fully implemented.
“As of now ready na ang atong citation tickets, implementation na ang mahitabo (Our citation tickets are ready, and the ordinance will now be implemented),” Babante said, adding that they will issue tickets to violators of Section 16 of the city ordinance once they are caught during search and destroy activities, and household surveillances.
Section 16 bans the storage of old tires and batteries, steel or plastic drums, empty bottles, unused jars and water tanks without proper covering because this make them possible mosquito breeding sites; storing rain or tap water in containers not properly covered when used in households and in relation to the pursuit of business, such as vulcanizing and battery repair shops and junkshops; and failure of vacant lot owners to clean their property as this make it a possible mosquito breeding site.
The penalty for the first offense is Php 1,000 and two hours of community service; A fine of Php 3,000 and 4 hours of community service for the second offense; and a fine of Php 5,000 and 4 hours of community service for third-time offenders.
Babante said that while the citation ticket isn’t the exact solution it could help in the prevention of dengue cases within the city.
She reported that as of Week 22 this year, the CHO recorded a total of 1,682 cases, which is lower compared to 1,942 cases recorded in the same period last year. The number of deaths in Week 22 is 12 which is lower compared to 18 deaths in the same period last year. Of the cases recorded, the majority are children aged 5-9 and most of the cases are in highly populated barangays.
Babante said that they continue to intensify the anti-dengue campaign despite the reduced number of cases, as the numbers only reflect the fruit of their earlier campaigns.
She credited the participation of the existing Barangay Mosquito Task Force (BMTF) in the reduction of the dengue cases within the city, and encouraged barangays to create more BMTFs.
Currently, a total of 58 barangays have established BMTFs, which are higher compared to 35 barangays that did so in the same period last year.
She noted that many barangays within the city were encouraged to create their BMTF in the wake of reduced cases in barangays that have established BMTFs.
Babante said that they are now only finalizing the details before the full implementation of the citation tickets, and they will start its issuance to violators soon.
Upon its rollout, CHO personnel from the Tropical Division and the Environmental Sanitation Division will issue the citation tickets.
She encouraged communities to continue observing the 5S (search and destroy mosquitoes, self-protect, seek early consultation, support fogging in outbreak areas, and sustain hydration to minimize dengue risks) and also implement the 4 pm campaign, Takip, Taob, Taktak, and Tuyo or 4Ts to help protect, not only their family but the communities against dengue as well. CIO
