WHEREAS, Section 15, Article II, of the Philippine Constitution provides that, "the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them";

WHEREAS, there is a reported increase in the incidence of cases of dengue fever in Asia and in the country;

WHEREAS, there is need to undertake preventive and control measures to address the increase in dengue fever cases; and

WHEREAS, this will require concerted and collaborative efforts among the various national and local government agencies and the private sector.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, FIDEL V. RAMOS, President of the Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by Law and the Constitution, do hereby direct the following:

SECTION 1. Establishment of the "National Tepok Lamok, Dengue Sapok" Program. - A nationwide simultaneous clean-up operation and elimination of mosquito-breeding places, to be known as the National Tepok Lamok, Dengue Sapok Program is hereby established.

SECTION 2. Participation of National Agencies and Local Government Units. - All nationwide agencies particularly, the Departments of Health (lead), Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, Environment and Natural Resources, Public Works and Highways, Education, Culture and Sports, National Disaster Coordinating Council, Office of the Press Secretary, and the Metro Manila Development Authority, as well as local government units are hereby directed to actively participate in the Program.

SECTION 3. Launching of the Program. - The Program shall be launched on 02 August 1996 which shall highlight a nationwide mass elimination of mosquito breeding places and observance of the four o'clock habit, whereby every citizen is enjoined to actively participate in the mass movement to eliminate breeding places of dengue at four o'clock in the afternoon everyday.

SECTION 4. Role of Local Government Units and Involvement of NGOs, POs and Private Sector. - The local government units, in coordination with concerned agencies, shall ensure continued observance of the four o'clock habit and the sustained prevention and elimination of mosquito breeding places at the community level. They shall also be responsible for mobilizing the community, especially, the barangays, churches, non-government organizations, people's organizations, and the private sector in the Program.

SECTION 5. Conduct of Information-Dissemination Campaign.  - The office of the Press Secretary in coordination with the Department of Health and other concerned agencies shall undertake a massive tri-media information-dissemination campaign to educate and raise public awareness on dengue prevention and control.

SECTION 6. Inclusion in Health Education Classes. - The Department of Education, Culture and Sports, shall include in its health education classes, preventive and control measures against dengue fever.

SECTION 7. Funding. - The funds necessary for the implementation of the Program shall be sourced from the respective budgets of the concerned agencies and local government units.

SECTION 8. Submission of Regular Reports. - The Department of Health shall submit regular reports to the Office of the President on the status of dengue cases and the implementation of the Program.

SECTION 9. Effectivity. - This Administrative Orders shall take effect immediately.

Adopted: 23 June 1996


(SGD.) RUBEN D. TORRES
Executive Secretary