ILOILO CITY, Philippines – Dengue fever has now claimed 13 lives in Iloilo City, health authorities said Tuesday.

The latest victim, a Grade 1 pupil from Barrio Obrero Lapuz, was brought a hospital Friday and died two days later. 

A total of 387 dengue cases have been recorded in the city since the start of the year, according to the city health office.

The city government says it is exploring various options to address the situation. 

Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog has requested the city council to approve a supplemental budget amounting to P2 million. 

The amount will be used to buy additional supplies used in getting blood samples of dengue patients and for financial assistance being given to poor patients.

The Iloilo government also plans to shoulder the processing fee paid by local government employees who donate blood. 

The city government will hold a monthly bloodletting activity to augment a local blood bank’s supplies. 

It has also organized a summit on August 27 wherein different sectors of society will discuss an action plan to combat dengue. – with a report from Joyce Clavecillas, ABS-CBN News Iloilo