Camarines Sur declares state of calamity amid dengue outbreak

PILI — Camarines Sur's provincial government declared a state of calamity on Monday in response to escalating dengue cases throughout the province, marking an intensified effort to combat the viral disease. Governor Luis Raymund "LRay" Villafuerte disclosed the decision at a dengue response command conference held at the Digital Transformation Center in Pili, the provincial capital.

The declaration underscores growing health concerns in the region as dengue transmission accelerates. By placing the province under a state of calamity, local authorities gain expanded powers to mobilize resources, coordinate emergency response measures, and implement disease control initiatives across municipalities and barangays.

Villafuerte, who chairs the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction management office, convened the response conference to assess the outbreak's scope and coordinate inter-agency efforts. The calamity status enables the provincial government to streamline procurement procedures, reallocate budgets, and accelerate deployment of medical personnel and disease surveillance teams to affected areas.

The move reflects rising alarm over dengue's spread in Bicol region, where seasonal patterns and environmental factors have historically favored mosquito breeding. Health officials are expected to intensify vector control operations, public awareness campaigns, and clinical management protocols in response to the emergency declaration.