Health coordinators from MIMAROPA region have developed targeted action plans to combat Aedes-borne diseases, particularly dengue, as the country faces a rapid increase in dengue cases.

The Department of Health MIMAROPA Center for Health Development conducted two batches of consultative meetings and planning workshops in June 2025, bringing together provincial, city, municipal and education department coordinators from across the region.

Representatives from Marinduque and Romblon provinces attended the first batch, followed by delegates from Oriental Mindoro and Occidental Mindoro provinces in the second session, all held in Quezon City.

The coordination among local implementers will ensure effective rollout of the National Aedes-borne Viral Diseases Prevention and Control Program across the region.

The workshops were organized as the country faces a sharp increase in dengue cases, with the Department of Health reporting 62,313 cases from January 1 to March 1, 2025 – a 73 percent jump compared to the same period in 2024.

As of February 15, 2025, cases had reached 43,732, representing a 56 percent increase year-on-year.

During the workshops, participants reviewed the latest policies, surveillance data and outbreak response strategies to enhance local action against dengue and other Aedes-borne diseases transmitted by day-biting mosquitoes.

Discussed topics included outbreak response protocols, the Dengue Fast Lane program, and the “Alas Kwatro Kontra Mosquito” (Four O’Clock Against Mosquito) campaign as part of the national strategy.

Attendees represented Provincial Health Offices, City and Municipal Health Offices, and Department of Education Division Coordinators. The sessions facilitated sharing of local experiences, implementation challenges and best practices from different localities.

Through collaborative planning workshops, participants developed concrete action plans tailored to their jurisdictions’ specific needs while aligning with Department of Health policies under the National Aedes-borne Viral Diseases Prevention and Control Program, Universal Health Care Law, and Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.