Today's Edition
Manila (dpa)
A village in the Philippine capital has offered to pay residents 1 Philippine peso ($0.017) for every five mosquitoes or larvae they catch - dead or alive - as part of efforts to fight an increase in cases of dengue.
The village of Addition Hills in the Manila suburban city of Mandaluyong launched the campaign - "May Piso sa Mosquito" (there is peso in mosquito) - on Wednesday, drawing crowds to the village hall.
"The project May Piso sa Mosquito is an alternative measure especially at a time when dengue cases are increasing," village chief Carlito Cernal said in a post on Facebook.
Cernal was defending the unconventional strategy, which prompted the Department of Health to suggest that instead of offering a bounty for mosquitoes, local officials should work on collecting garbage.
On its Facebook page, the village said one resident brought 45 mosquito larvae in one go, earning him 9 pesos.
The average daily income in Metro Manila is between 600 and 645 pesos.
Carmelita Gonzales, chief of staff of the village chief, said that so far, at least 36 residents have participated.
"More importantly, the project has raised awareness among residents about the need to clean their surroundings to fight dengue," she added. "We will have this campaign as long as dengue cases are high."
Some residents have expressed concern that the project could backfire and unscrupolous villagers may breed mosquitoes for the reward.
Nationwide, at least 21 people have died from dengue since January, according to the Department of Health, which recorded a total of 28,234 dengue cases from January to February 1, a 40% increase from the same period last year.
Dengue is a life-threatening viral disease spread by mosquitoes in tropical and subtropical regions. In 2024, over 14 million dengue cases and over 10,000 dengue-related deaths were reported globally, according to World Health Organization figures.
