AKBAYAN SENATOR RISA HONTIVEROS ON THE DOH'S DECLARATION OF A NATIONAL DENGUE EPIDEMIC

'The threat is real. This should allow us to mobilize all available resources to combat this problem. Just like our response to the measles problem of the recent past, we trust that the Department of Health (DOH), frontline health personnel and Local Government Units will be at the forefront of the fight to protect Filipinos from this public health threat.

Given the gravity of the situation, I call on our government to institute all possible strategies and explore other interventions that would protect all Filipinos from this public health emergency. Even as the authorities respond to this nationwide dengue outbreak, we should take the initiative and undertake all available measures to prevent the disease from harming us and our loved ones.

The DOH's 4S strategy calls on us to "search and destroy" mosquito-breeding sites, employ "self-protection measures" like wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts and using mosquito repellant, "seek early consultation," and "support fogging/spraying" only in hotspot communities.

Lastly, I call for an end to the scaremongering and promotion of pseudo science that defy scientific facts and the advice of health experts. Such antics hinder us from protecting the people's health and containing and ultimately defeating this epidemic.