Mayor Celso Lobregat and City Health Officer Rodel Agbulos spearheaded the simultaneous noise barrage and clean up drive yesterday morning to remind the public on the need to maintain cleanliness and sanitation to free the city from dengue and all forms of diseases.

The citywide clean up drive, formalized through Executive Order 351-2010 issued by Mayor Lobregat August 31, enjoins all sectors to participate in the cleanliness activity not only yesterday, September 2, but all through the coming days.

Focus of the clean up campaign is the search and destruction of breeding places of the dengue carrier mosquito larvae.

As early as 7 am, students, teachers, barangay officials and folks including government employees and private sector personnel turned up in barangay streets and in areas suspected to be breeding places of the dengue carrier mosquitoes in response to the city government’s call to unite versus the dengue disease.

The noise barrage started in two points: City Health compound in Pettit Barracks for the convoy that proceeded to the east coast and Rizal Street in front of City Hall for the convoy that proceeded to the west coast.

Records from the CHO showed that dengue cases have soared to 1,833 as of this week with 20 fatalities since the first day of January this year.

The mayor also issued executive order Number 350-2010 declaring a dengue fever outbreak in Zamboanga City and a year-round war against the dengue disease based on recommendations of the CHO.

Among the hardest hit barangays (with most number of dengue cases) were: Tumaga with 110 cases, Tetuan- 101, Sta. Maria- 94, San Roque- 93, Baliwasan- 81, Guiwan- 76, Putik- 75, San Jose Gusu- 69, Pasonanca- 68, Sta. Catalina- 61 and Talon-Talon with 59 cases.

Both Mayor Lobregat and Dr. Agbulos hoped that the citywide clean up drive and noise barrage yesterday remind local residents about the need for a sustained cleanliness campaign to reduce dengue cases in the city.

The two officials said that the city government will not achieve its goals of minimizing if not eliminating dengue cases in the city without the support and cooperation of the barangay folks and all sectors.