As the rainy season continues, Bontoc, Mountain Province maintains vigilance against Dengue with the ongoing implementation of ‘Oplan Taob’, a community-wide clean-up program to eliminate mosquito breeding grounds.
Following reports of 20 Dengue cases from January to May 2024 in the municipality, one of the priority concerns of the Department of Health (DOH) is to implement the Oplan Taob. This initiative, spearheaded by the DOH in partnership with the Municipal Health Office (MHO), Provincial Health Office (PHO), and Rural Health Midwives (RHMs), aims to eliminate potential mosquito breeding grounds in the barangay.
Oplan Taob is a community-driven initiative with the Barangay Health Workers (BGWs) and residents. To eliminate mosquito breeding sites, BGWs and residents work to drain stagnant water from potential mosquito breeding grounds like pots, drums, and discarded tires.
Considering the distance of the houses and the temperature of the area, mosquitos are most likely to breed in the areas unnoticed by the residents.
The Barangay Samoki has adopted the Oplan Taob as a preventive measure. As the barangay recorded three cases in 2024, they implemented the said initiative on June 13, 2024.

Photo Courtesy: Facebook of Bontoc, Mountain Province and Barangay Samoki
Daniela P. Chumacg, one of the kagawads of Barangay Samoki, “Inrugi mi daytuy dita kabala balay ket dawat mi lang kuma nga itultuloy dagiti kakailyan mi dituy barangay mi (We started this in every houses in our barangay and we hope that our residents will maintain and continue to do so).”
She added that clean-up-drives were also conducted to completely eliminate the breeding areas of mosquitos and help maintain the cleanliness of the environment.
Minda Tay-og, one of the residents of Barangay Samoki, “I-implement da piman dituy, dagiti BGW, amin dakammi dituy ita-ob mi amin nga mabalin nga pagitlogan ti lamok (The BGW implement it here, we all participated in emptying the water of every possible breeding area of mosquitos).”
In addition to Oplan Taob, residents are advised to follow the 5S anti-dengue method and practice it in their own barangays. This 5S stands for Search and destroy breeding places; Safe protection measures; Seek early consultation for fever lasting more than two days; Say yes to fogging when there is an impending outbreak; and Sustained Hydration.
While there are no reported cases as of June, maintaining the cleanliness of the environment to prevent the spread of dengue is highly advised.