Manila neighbourhood puts bounty on dengue-carrying mosquitoes
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Addition Hills village captain Carlito Cernal explaining his dengue project. Mosquitoes brought in for a bounty were put in a so-called death chamber with UV light.
PHOTO: EPA-EFE
MANILA – Residents in a central Manila neighbourhood lined up on Feb 19, as dengue cases spike nationwide, to collect a bounty – one peso (2.4 Singapore cents) for every five mosquitoes, dead or alive.
Mr Carlito Cernal, village captain in Addition Hills, said the awareness-raising project he initiated could have a “huge impact” on curbing the spread of the tropical disease when combined with local clean-up efforts.
Philippine health officials and experts were less convinced, but enthusiasm was high among residents who carried pails, cups and other containers filled with dengue-spreading mosquitoes to exchange for cash at the village hall.
Mr Iluminado Candasua brought three live specimens in a sealed plastic cup that were duly counted and transferred by village officials to their so-called death chamber, a glass-enclosed ultraviolet light machine.
“It’s very hard to capture mosquitoes,” Mr Candasua said, explaining how he strategically chose a darkly lit fire station where he used a cup to manually trap the insects against a wall.
Mr Candasua said the peso he got for his efforts would go into a piggy bank he is using to save up for a cellphone for his child.
The World Health Organisation ranked the Philippines as the country most affected by dengue in the Western Pacific region in 2023 when it had 167,355 cases and 575 deaths.
The tropical disease, while rarely fatal, carries symptoms ranging from fever and headaches to swollen glands.
‘Unusual rise’
The Philippines has seen an “unusual rise” in dengue cases in 2025, with 28,200 patients recorded as at Feb 1, according to Department of Health spokesman Albert Domingo, a 40 per cent increase from the same period in 2024.
Five cities and municipalities have declared outbreaks.
Dr Domingo said it is important that local communities consult the health authorities before launching ad hoc efforts, adding that the problem is best addressed by “going back to the fundamentals”.
“The sooner we clean our surroundings and overturn any possible areas where stagnant water is collecting, then we will have a better fight against dengue,” he said, urging residents to protect themselves with insect repellent and long sleeves.
Public health expert Anthony Leachon said while he welcomes all anti-dengue initiatives, the Addition Hills round-up would have “little or no impact at all”.
Some residents, he warned, might even exacerbate the problem by cultivating mosquitoes for coins.
While Ms Rachel Estoque does not intentionally breed mosquitoes, the haul she turned in on Feb 19 came from a source of stagnant water in her home.
The 45-year-old homemaker said she woke up early to catch mosquito larvae growing in water in her flowerpot. The 20 larvae earned her four pesos, enough for a tiny packet of cooking oil.
But like others waiting to trade in their catch, Ms Estoque said the money was less important than the principle involved.
“My child suffered from dengue before and I know how scary and difficult that is... that’s why I’m participating in this project,” she said. AFP
