President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. urged local government units to step up in the campaign against diseases such as leptospirosis, dengue, and mpox or monkeypox.
During the 2024 Local Governance Summit on Friday, August 23, in Pasay City, President Marcos acknowledged that the Philippines recently recorded a surge in leptospirosis and dengue cases.
The Chief Executive said that the Department of Health (DOH) attributes the spike to improper garbage disposal and poor waste management in the country.
President Marcos stressed that the solid waste management problem worsened the floods caused by Super Typhoon Carina, and the effects of the the southwest monsoon last July.
He pointed out that local chief executive must work harder to utilize environmentally-sound methods and waste minimization measures to protect public health and the environment.
"So, 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 flood waters and to practice personal hygiene to mitigate the spread of leptospirosis, Mpox, and any other illnesses," President Marcos said.
President Marcos also called on local chief executives to actively participate in the Kalinang at Inisyatiba para sa Malinis na Inang Bayan (KALINISAN) Progam spearheaded by the Department of Interior and Local Government.
He said that the program reflects the earnest efforts of the Administration the waste disposal and management in the Philippines, as well as to ensure a clean, healthy, and safe environment for all.
"This has always been a problem for our urban communities especially where, how do we get rid of the tons of waste that accumulate and to not leave them in the environment and to remove them from the exposure to people in their day-to-day lives," President Marcos said.
"And that is something that we really to have to look into and finally come to a solution to that problem,' he added.
On August 19, DOH recorded the first case of mpox in the Philippines in 2024, and the 10th case in the country since 2023.
