Dengue mosquito ‘coddlers’ face fines

MANILA, Philippines–The Manila City Council has passed an ordinance aimed at organizing communities in the city to fight against dengue fever, particularly by punishing people who fail to get rid of breeding sites for mosquitoes in and outside their houses.

The council recently approved on third and final reading the Anti-Dengue Ordinance of Manila authored by Councilor Cristina Isip. It specifically prohibits and punishes people for keeping mosquito-breeding sites—even those they may be unaware of.

“Households, schools and other establishments are prohibited to have any of the following breed sites or habitat [for] Aedes mosquitoes in their own premises and surroundings: uncovered water containers, uncovered garbage cans, earthen or clay jars, discarded cans, bottles, plastic cups or any containers potentially collecting rainwater, old tires that accumulate water, clogged roof gutters, pits, diggings and excavations,” it read.

Violators will be warned on the first offense while those caught twice will be fined P2,000. On their third time, they will be fined P4,000 or thrown into jail.

In an interview, Isip said she came up with the sanctions because she noticed that despite the antidengue information campaign, people seemed ambivalent about destroying breeding sites of mosquitoes.