The Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Health kicked off the nationwide distribution of the Mosquito Ovicidal/Larvicidal trap or the OL Trap at the Balyuan Convention Center in Tacloban City Feb 19.
The launch was anchored on firm partnership between the two agencies to decrease the number of dengue-carrying mosquitoes and subsequently bring down the number of dengue cases in the country.
The OL Trap is a simple device that helps reduce the number of the dengue-carrying female Aedes aegypti mosquito by attracting mosquitoes and killing their eggs trapped in the kit.
According to DOST and DOH, the local governments have a very important role in the successful deployment of the technology, making them an essential component in this drive against dengue.
“We are enjoining the local governments to help in spreading the mosquito trap technology,” said Department of Health Secretary Enrique Ona as he pitched the effectiveness of the DOST-developed the OL Trap based on previous tests.
The OL Trap was launched after a series of successful laboratory and field tests that proved the 100 effectiveness of the trap in bringing down the number of the dengue-carrying Aedes Aegypti mosquito.
From left: Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez, DOST-ITDI Director Nuna Almanzor, DOH Secretary Enrique Ona, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo, Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla, DOH Undersecretary David Joaquin Lozada, and DOST Undersecretary Carol Yorobe. (Photo by Joy M. Lazcano)
Hundreds of Leyteñons, including representatives from the nearby provinces, trooped to the kick-off of the nationwide distribution of OL Trap as Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez and Gov. Jericho Petilla thanked DOST and DOH for sharing the technology to Tacloban, Leyte, and other areas in the country. Leyte had the most number of dengue cases last year, according to DOH records.
Mayor Romualdez also hailed the information campaign on the OL Trap, even as he recognized that “education is a very big factor in curbing dengue.”
Gov. Petilla, meanwhile enjoined the people of Leyte to work together in helping spread information about dengue. He likewise recognized that public information is very important in curbing dengue.
OL Trap components
In a video demonstration, DOST’s Industrial Technology Development Institute showed the different components of the kit, namely an ordinary black tumbler, a strip of lawanit board measuring 1 x 6.5 x ½ inches, and natural pellets. The pellets attract the Aedes aegypti mosquito to lay its eggs into the rough part of the lawanit strip drenched with the natural solution. The solution then kills the eggs and larvae, said the demonstrator from DOST-ITDI, the developer of the technology.
“This is a very innovative technology to help solve a serious problem,” Health Secretary Ona said.
OL Trap distributed to local governments
During the roll-out, DOST Region 8 distributed 800 OL Traps to identified household participants. Two thousand more traps shall be distributed to the rest of Leyte through the regional office of the Department of Health. As partner institution in this launch, DOH shall handle the identification of and distribution to participating households, in coordination with local government units.
DOST and DOH shall distribute 200,000 mosquito OL Trap kits nationwide, with about 2,800 OL Traps for every region except NCR which will receive 5,200 kits because of the higher number of dengue cases in the area. Household participants will receive four complete sets of the kit and six-month supply of organic OL trap pellets.
“This shows that the government is really bent on reducing the number of dengue cases in the country,” Science Secretary Montejo added. “In fact, the DOST is in synergy with the DOH. Both agencies are working very hard in coming up with solutions to fight dengue.”
Previous laboratory and field testing in Marikina and Quezon City showed positive results in terms of reducing the number of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.
Meanwhile Secretary Montejo urges communities to participate and support the project. “This is our fight, we hope that in the end we can help control the spread of this dreaded virus.” (Framelia V. Anonas, S&T Media Service)
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