Albay declares dengue emergency

NAGA CITY — Albay Gov. Noel Rosal has announced the suspension of classes in public elementary and high schools from Monday, 14 September, to Friday, 18 September, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the province due to a rise in dengue cases.

In a post on his Facebook page Saturday, 12 September, Rosal said he called an emergency meeting with mayors, the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office, the Albay Provincial Health Office (APHO), and the Department of Health-Albay following the declaration.

Among the measures to curb the spread of the mosquito-borne disease is the five-day suspension of classes in public elementary and high schools.

In a separate Facebook post Sunday, 13 September, Rosal clarified that private schools offering elementary and high school classes will suspend classes only on Thursday, 17 September, and Friday, 18 September, as they are scheduled to hold wellness and end-of-school breaks during the first part of the week.

He said private schools were included in the suspension “due to the urgency” of the situation.

Rosal also said the provincial government will conduct a simultaneous cleanup in all 720 barangays in the province on Thursday to “search and destroy” mosquito-breeding sites, including those in schools.

The provincial government will also provide one fogging machine to each of the province’s 15 municipalities to augment their existing equipment.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Albay government will likewise conduct a “food for work” program for residents whose livelihoods may be affected by the measures.

Meanwhile, all hospitals managed by the provincial government have been placed on “red” alert in anticipation of a possible influx of patients showing symptoms of dengue.

A “red” alert in medical institutions requires doctors, nurses and other staff to report and remain available for deployment. It also activates material resources, logistics and medical supplies for use.

Earlier this month, Rosal issued Executive Order 51, Series of 2026, ordering the reactivation and strengthening of the Aksyon Barangay Kontra Dengue and barangay dengue brigades across Albay.

The order directs barangays to mobilize officials, health workers, volunteers, schools, establishments, civil society organizations and residents for dengue prevention and control activities.

The APHO has yet to release updated data on the current number of dengue cases in Albay. It recorded 1,457 cases from 1 January to 2 September, including 11 deaths. This represented a 27.37-percent increase from the 1,144 cases and three deaths recorded during the same period in 2025.