Kabayan party-list Rep. Ron Salo wants an inquiry into the national anti-dengue program, citing grave concern that the surge in dengue cases has put the lives of more children at greater risk of death.
He raised concern that the cases have reached a record-high increase of 90 percent from last year’s figures for the same period.
Salo filed House Resolution No. 79 that would task the House Committee on Health to conduct an inquiry.
“The rise in dengue cases this year as reported by the Department of Health is nothing short of alarming, especially when we have reported the lowest number of cases last year since 2009,” he said.
“Every day that passes wherein we don’t act is another day too late,” Salo said.
Citing data from the World Health Organization, he said there were more deaths, or a higher case fatality rate, among children aged 0- nine years.
Salo also expressed concern with cases reported from the provinces.
Antique has declared a state of calamity due to the rise in dengue cases in all its 18 municipalities.
Negros Occidental is also considering going under the same as it reported a 777 percent increase in the number of cases in the last six months, the party-list lawmaker said.
“We urgently need to revisit our country’s dengue prevention and patient care programs so we can immediately curb the rising cases and deaths of dengue in the country and protect the health of our people,” he appealed.