MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government on Tuesday said that while dengue cases around the country are increasing, the number of cases in the country's business capital has been going down.

The Makati City government said that based on the local health division, only 132 dengue cases have been recorded from January to August this year.

The figure is down by 55% compared to the 296 cases recorded during the same period last year.

"In August alone, the figures dropped by 61 percent, with 99 cases last year compared to 39 cases this year," the Makati City government said.

Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. said that aside from the decreasing number of dengue cases, there have also been no deaths among the reported cases.

Binay said that 11 residents died due to dengue last year.

He attributed the lower dengue record in the city to the continuous clean-up drive of the city government in all its barangays.

"We are glad that the concerted efforts of various agencies and sectors of the city government, in partnership with the barangays, have yielded positive results showing that our preventive strategy against dengue really works," Binay said. 
 
Dr. Maria Lourdes Salud, city health division chief, said that they have been conducting weekly clean-up operations to search and destroy breeding places of dengue-carrying mosquitoes in the barangays.

Lourdes said there are 6 barangays classified as "priority areas" for the city's anti-dengue campaign. These are Guadalupe Nuevo, Guadalupe Viejo, Pitogo, Pinagkaisahan, Bangkal and West Rembo.
 
The Department of Health said From 62,503 cases of dengue with 465 deaths have been recorded around the country in the last eight months.