Eliminate trash to combat dengue

The Department of Health has earlier announced the “4S” of dengue prevention: search and destroy, self-protection measures, seek early consultation, and say “no” to indiscriminate fogging.

The first one is very much related and connected to Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) wherein the dengue vector, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, would be eradicated through the elimination of its breeding grounds: trash and garbage. Moreover, the country will experience La Niña during the first quarter of 2018, coupled with global warming, making the environment an excellent breeding ground for mosquitoes
especially with all the trash and garbage generated over the
holidays.

RA 9003 is one of the country’s most ignored environmental policies. Chapter VI, Section 48 and 49 stipulates that a fine or community service will be imposed on those who litter, throw or dump waste in public places, such as roads, sidewalks, canals, estero or parks, and establishments.
Moreover, Section 50 states that local government units that fail to enforce this policy shall be charged administratively in accordance with the Local Government Code of 1991.

The global community observed the International Coastal Cleanup Day last Sept. 16. We went to Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area at Long Island in Las Piñas City and witnessed tons of floating garbage being washed along the shoreline, mostly plastic sachets, sando bags, and PET bottles. We realized that our action is futile, as shown by the seemingly endless piling of garbage along the beach, unless it will be halted at the source through the 3Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. Therefore, strict implementation of this act is badly needed to eradicate dengue.

MOISES NORMAN Z. GARCIA, PhD and MARIA ROSARIO VIRGINIA COBAR-GARCIA, PhD, University of Santo Tomas, RCSSED, [email protected]