Barangay Sicsican is the barangay in Puerto Princesa with highest number of dengue cases, in a lecture and awareness activity spearheaded by the City Health Office (CHO) presented during the Dengue and Malaria Awareness Day held at SM activity center on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.
Based on official record, Sicsican has 170 dengue cases.
Barangay San Manuel on the other hand has the second highest number of dengue cases with 140, closely followed by Barangay Sta. Monica with 138 cases, Barangay San Miguel with 131 cases and Barangay San Pedro with 120 cases.
Barangays San Pedro and San Manuel have recorded two and one deaths caused by dengue respectively.
Other barangays with high dengue cases were San Jose which 108 cases are reported, Bancao-Bancao with recorded 98 cases, Santa Lourdes with 90, Irawan with 75 dengue cases and Tiniguiban with 75 cases.
Most of these dengue cases are children ages 1-10 years old.
In the entire city of Puerto Princesa, the CHO recorded a total of 1,669 dengue cases with seven deaths.
The CHO has intensified its campaign in the different barangays in this city, in its effort to prevent the spread of dengue.
Dr. Kristine Faith E. Rama of the CHO narrated that in one instance in Barangay San Miguel when a child died due to dengue, it was found out that the source of mosquitoes was not within their house or backyard but rather it came from their neighbor’s plastic drum stored with water, however, it became breeding site of Aedes mosquitoes, which she described can fly 50 to 300 meters away.
“Ang prevention ng dengue ay hindi kanya-kanya. Kundi magtulong-tulong tayong lahat” Dr. Rama emphasized.
She said that barangay and purok residents should work on their own and shall not rely to their barangay officials to go around their houses.
“Hindi responsibilidad ng mga barangay officials na pupunta sa inyong mga bahay at itaob ang inyong mga pinag-iiponan ng tubig. Dapat tulong-tulong tayo mag oplan taob o oplan taktak. Mga bote na naiwan baka hindi nyo nataob. Mag start ang pagbabago sa bawat isa sa atin,” she further explained.
Dr. Rama recalled that in 2019, there was a dengue outbreak in a rural barangay of Puerto Princesa in Barangay Buenavista.
“From zero case halos maubos sila (mga residente na magka-dengue) kasi kumalat yung dengue. Napabayaan na mag-breed ang lamok sa buho. Kaya dapat lagyan ng labasan ng tubig,” she said.
She likewise reminded the public, especially those who are using a bamboo species locally known as buho in their fences to put holes in these buho.
Public health practitioners in this city underscores that preventing dengue is crucial because there is no cure, the disease is a growing global threat with increasing cases, and it can lead to severe, life-threatening complications like organ failure and shock. Prevention reduces the significant burden on individuals and healthcare systems. This can be done by controlling mosquito populations, eliminating breeding sites, and protecting people from bites through insect repellents and protective clothing, therefore preventing outbreaks and protecting communities.
