As the Philippines sets its sights on eliminating dengue deaths by 2030, a coalition of medical experts and business leaders is urging a nationwide push centered on vaccination, stronger prevention measures, and consistent government funding.
Ahead of Dengue Awareness Month this June, members of the Philippine Medical Association-led Empowering Networks to Defeat Dengue (E.N.D. Dengue) Coalition highlighted the persistent public health and economic toll of the disease, noting over 62,000 reported cases since January alone.
Former Health Undersecretary Dr. Eric Tayag said the government currently spends around P600 million annually on dengue control, most of it allocated to insecticide-based vector control under the “4S” strategy. But he warned that current efforts are not keeping pace with the disease.
“The 4S strategy alone is not enough,” Tayag said, citing dengue’s four-year cyclical spikes that continue to overwhelm hospitals, communities, and productivity.
Dr. Lulu Bravo emphasized that despite more than 70 years of dengue awareness in the country, definitive control remains elusive.
“We believe a comprehensive approach grounded in science and vaccination is key,” Bravo said. “Vaccination is the way forward. No country has successfully controlled vector-borne diseases without it.”
Business leader Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. called on policymakers to institutionalize dengue prevention funding, drawing parallels to tuberculosis programs. He noted that dengue costs the country an estimated P11.5 billion to P13 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity.
The coalition urged urgent action to align resources, science, and policy to drive the Philippines toward a future free of dengue fatalities.
