President Marcos urges LGUs: Intensify cleanliness campaigns to prevent illnesses

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos ordered local government units (LGUs) yesterday to step up their campaign for a clean and healthy environment to prevent diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue and mpox.

Marcos attributed the rising cases of leptospirosis and dengue in the country to “poor” waste management.

“I urge you all to lead aggressive information dissemination campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle and prevent diseases, such as a campaign to remind our people, especially children, against swimming in floodwaters and to practice (proper) personal hygiene to mitigate the spread of leptospirosis, mpox and any other illnesses,” Marcos said in his speech at the Local Governance Summit in Pasay City.

“Local chief executives must work harder to utilize environmentally sound methods and waste minimization measures to protect public health and of course, our environment,” he added.

He said garbage is a major factor that caused flooding during the onslaught of Typhoon Carina and the southwest monsoon last month.

“That is something that we really have to look into and finally come to a solution to that problem,” he added.

Marcos said the government, led by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, has launched the Kalinisan program as part of efforts to improve the country’s waste disposal and management and ensure “a clean, healthy and safe environment for all.”

“I call on the LGUs to continue your active participation in this initiative,” the Chief Executive said.

He also urged LGUs to make use of technology to improve solid waste management as there are new technologies being developed to solve such problem.

A total of 150,354 dengue cases were recorded nationwide from Jan. 1 to Aug. 10, based on latest data from the Department of Health (DOH).

On the other hand, the total number of recorded leptospirosis cases nationwide from Jan. 1 to Aug. 3 has reached 2,115.

The Philippines reported its first mpox case this year on Monday, but Health Secretary Ted Herbosa said it is a mild variant of the virus and not the deadly strain.

DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said the mpox patient is showing good signs of recuperating from the viral disease.

The President earlier directed agencies to sustain monitoring of areas and people most vulnerable to mpox, which has been declared by the World Health Organization as a global public health emergency.

EO 138

In the same speech, the President said an executive order amending EO 138 issued in 2021 may be out this year.

Marcos said their office has long worked on a formula to divide the funding “according to the way that we determine where services belong,” whether in the national or  the local government.

In March last year, Marcos ordered the review of EO 138, which was issued by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, for possible amendments and to determine what national government functions should be devolved to LGUs under the Mandanas ruling. — Rhodina Villanueva