A man piggybacks a person along a flooded street in Manila on July 24, 2024 amid heavy rains brought by Typhoon Gaemi. (Photo by Jam Sta Rosa / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Monday said he would recommend to local government units (LGUs) the creation of ordinances banning children from playing in floodwater.
He made the pronouncement after disclosing that the epidemic threshold of leptospirosis continues to rise after the recent flooding.
“‘Yan ang i-recommend ko, especially ang flood-prone LGUs na gawan talaga ng ordinansa na bawal ang pag-swimming at paglaro sa baha,” Herbosa told Malacañang reporters.
(That’s what I will recommend, especially to flood-prone LGUs. They should make an ordinance that prohibits swimming and playing in floodwater.)
The health chief also said he wants the LGUs to strictly implement the ordinance.
“Magre-recommend ako to enforce it talaga sa local chief executives, sa mga mayor,” he added.
(I will recommend to the local chief executives, the mayors, to strictly enforce it.)
READ: Make plans for leptospirosis surge, DOH tells hospitals
According to Herbosa, the leptospirosis cases in the country were caused by a “behavioral problem,” which must be changed through education and information dissemination. For this reason, Herbosa said he wants to suggest to Education Secretary Sonny Angara to remind students not to play in floodwater.
“At kung lulusong kayo, mag-bota kayo. You can protect yourself. Kapag na-expose kayo, soap and water will kill the lepto virus,” he added.
(And if you wade through floodwater, wear rain boots. You can protect yourself. If you are exposed, soap and water will kill the lepto virus.)
The Department of Health said as of July 27, the total number of leptospirosis cases in the country for 2024 was 1,444, with 162 deaths.