The Naga City government has declared a state of calamity on Tuesday, September 8, following a severe dengue outbreak that killed six residents and infected more than 300 others.
Data from the City Epidemiology Surveillance Unit (CESU) showed reported dengue cases reached 307 between January 1 and September 8, 2026—a sharp increase from the 116 cases recorded during the same period last year. The outbreak has spread across 24 of the city’s 27 barangays (88.89%), hitting a peak of 62 cases in August alone.
The six fatalities were primarily concentrated in Barangays Cararayan, Concepcion Pequeña, and Carolina. Youth and school-aged children between 1 and 19 years old account for more than 63% of all affected individuals.
Through Resolution No. 2026-610—sponsored by Councilor Gilda Gayle Abonal-Gomez—the Sangguniang Panlungsod adopted City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) Resolution No. 2026-007. The joint motion authorizes immediate emergency intervention measures, resource mobilization, and the release of Quick Response Funds (QRF) to contain the public health emergency.
"This is a state of calamity due to a health emergency dahil po sa surge kan number of dengue cases sa Naga. Pero ang approach po kan ciudad, two-pronged siya—may preventive tsaka remedy, urgent response," Abonal explained.
"Alarming ini. Dae ta man mapugulan an mga tao na mamatean yan pero siguro po boot lang ipaabot kan ciudad na pigmamanehar po siya," she added.
(Translation: “This is alarming. We cannot completely prevent people from feeling this way, but the city wants to convey that the situation is being managed.”)
To address the severe strain on local healthcare infrastructure, Mayor Leni Robredo and city policymakers initiated proactive measures to expand capacity at the Naga City General Hospital (NCGH).
Plans include establishing four additional medical wards to augment bed capacity, procuring essential medical equipment, and hiring temporary healthcare staff—including doctors, nurses, and medical technologists.
“Si Mayor Leni naglibot na... Several groups an pig-meeting, si general hospital ta po pighiling na si mga pwedeng gibuhon tanganing madagdagan si hospital beds ta. Nabanggit ta na may mga rooms na pig-convert na siya para maging ward. Naglaag na po nin fast lane tangarig su mga dengue cases duman na idederetso,” Abonal stressed.
(Translation: "Mayor Leni already inspected the area and held meetings. She met with several groups, and at our general hospital, they looked into possible measures to increase our hospital beds. It was mentioned that some rooms have been converted into wards. A fast lane was also put in place so that dengue cases can go directly there.")
To further ease the patient load at NCGH, Mayor Robredo directed primary healthcare facilities—including Our Lady of Lourdes Infirmary, City Health Office 1, City Health Office 2, and the Super Health Center—to extend admission and medical services to non-critical dengue cases.
With minors representing the majority of patients, Robredo called on households, workplaces, and schools to participate in massive clean-up drives targeting mosquito breeding grounds. She suggested that the Department of Education (DepEd) allow students to wear "dengue uniforms"—clothing providing greater body coverage—alongside the regular use of insect repellents.
To ensure seamless coordination across agencies, the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) is establishing an Incident Management Team (IMT). Patterned after the city’s COVID-19 response framework, the IMT adopts a whole-of-government approach to streamline clinical admissions, vector control, and public health education campaigns.