With most areas in the coastal city of Navotas still flooded due to days of incessant rains spawned by tropical storm “Gener,” Mayor John Rey Tiangco yesterday advised the residents to stay away from floodwaters to avoid  contracting leptospiros.
Tiangco issued the statement following report from the Department of Health (DoH) which revealed a 125-percent increase in leptospirosis cases from January to July this year.
There were 2,002 cases recorded nationwide, compared to 887 for the same period last year, the DoH said.
Deaths from the disease,  contracted through contact with water contaminated with the urine of infected animals, also rose from last year’s 85 to 97 this year.
The health department said there were fewer cases recorded this year, 98, compared to last year’s 139.
But the city government would work double-time to make sure that no residents will contract the disease as most areas in the coastal city remain submerged in floodwaters due to days of non-stop rains and strong winds which were worsened by high tides.
“The mayor has urged the residents to stay away from floodwaters which are obviously dirty to avoid leptospiros and other diseases coming from dirty waters,” said Ms. Jayne Banayad, the city’s public information officer.
The mayor directed members of the local health office and health centers in the barangays to make themselves available to residents who go there for check-ups, Banayad told the Tribune in a text message.
Tiangco said more than 500 families, especially those living near the coastal areas were still at various evacuation centers where they are being provided with food and clothing while some have returned to their homes.
“We cannot just allow them to return to their homes as of now because of threats of flooding and storm surge since most of them are living along the coastal areas,” said Tiangco who instructed his disaster response team to be on alert until the situation has returned to normal.
He added they have managed to put hundreds of sandbags in areas where dikes were shattered at the height of the typhoon’s wrath.
“We have no other recourse but to put sandbags so as to protect our residents and minimize the damage as a result of the destroyed dikes and pumping stations,” said Tiangco who personally led the rescue and evacuation of the affected families to safer and higher grounds.
He lauded the members of the Sangguniang Panlunsod for passing a measure which allowed him to declare a state of calamity in the entire city.
With that, the local government can be able to set aside money from its calamity funds which it can use to extend the much-needed help and support to the affected residents, especially those whose houses are submerged in floodwaters and evacuated.
“I also take this opportunity to extend my sincerest gratitude to city hall officials and employees and hundreds of volunteers, including those coming from other localities and agencies, for helping the city government during such calamity,” Tiangco said.