Chatto holds anti-dengue clean up day in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, , Philippines  — Governor Edgar Chatto launched the province-wide anti-dengue clean up day as he called on all the households to maximize the non-working holiday yesterday by clearing their surroundings of any potential breeding ground of dengue-carrying mosquitoes.

Yesterday (July 23) was declared a special, non-working day for the entire province, including the city in lieu of the 158th Foundation Day of Bohol last Sunday.

With 211 cases of dengue reported since January this year, with six deaths, the governor enjoined all Boholanos to be one with the Capitol in devoting the day to an anti-dengue clean-up of their surroundings.

Chatto issued an executive order declaring July 23 as a special Anti-Dengue and Clean-up Day, in response to the recent spate of heavy rains and the reported rise of suspected dengue cases in the province.

Although Bohol Day falls on a Sunday this year and was commemorated yesterday, a presidential proclamation issued by Malacañang confirmed a request from the Office of the Governor to declare July 23 a special, non-working holiday.

Under Republic Act No. 7683, every 22nd day of the month of July is declared Bohol Day, a non-working special public holiday all over the province and Tagbilaran City.

On July 22, 1854, Bohol was separated from the administration of Cebu and, together with the now island-province of Siquijor, was created into a politico-military province during the Spanish rule in the Philippines.

As the entire province celebrated the 158th Foundation Day anniversary on Sunday, Presidential Proclamation No. 431, issued on July 12 declared “it is only fitting and proper that the people of the Province of Bohol and the City of Tagbilaran be given full opportunity to celebrate and participate in the occasion, with appropriate ceremonies.”