Senator Bong Go, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, raised alarm over the recent surge of leptospirosis cases during a committee hearing, warning about the impact of flooding on public health and the strain placed on government hospitals.
Go pressed officials from the Department of Health (DOH) to account for measures taken to address overcrowding, particularly at the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI), which had been overwhelmed by patients suffering from the disease.
The veteran legislator, who has consistently emphasized health as a priority in his legislative agenda, began by drawing attention to the problem and linking it directly to flood-related issues.
“Ito pong leptospirosis, napansin natin ‘yung overcrowding sa NKTI dahil sa dami ng leptospirosis cases. Kumusta na po ito? Paano n’yo na-address? Since naging problema po ito ngayon dahil sa pagbabaha lately,” the seasoned lawmaker asked during the hearing.
“The problem of flooding is not just an infrastructural issue but a health emergency that requires urgent action.”
The senator stressed that the problem of flooding is not just an infrastructural issue but a health emergency that requires urgent action. Citing recent experiences, he explained: “Kahapon, nagkaroon kami ng pagdinig. Sana ginamit na lang po ‘yung pondo ng flood control to control flooding sa mga hospital talaga.”
“To address cases ng leptospirosis, ‘yung P100 million na proyekto, ilang pasyente na po matutulungan n’yan na naging biktima ng pagbaha itong mga leptospirosis cases. Sino pong, who is the appropriate official to answer that?” he asked.
Health Secretary Ted Herbosa turned the question over to the appropriate undersecretary, who reported that the DOH had already managed the surge of leptospirosis cases in the National Capital Region.
“The situation is steadily improving, with cases now on a downward trend.”
According to the update, no new admissions had been recorded in the last three days, with many patients discharged after recovery and only a minimal number still confined. The official added that the situation was steadily improving, with cases now on a downward trend.
Go sought clarification to ensure that the situation at NKTI had improved, to which the DOH official responded affirmatively.
As of mid-August 2025, the DOH reports a marked decline in daily leptospirosis cases, falling from nearly 200 admissions per day during early August to roughly 10 daily from August 10 to 14. The NKTI alone recorded zero new daily leptospirosis admissions this week, a significant improvement from the peak period.
Likewise, data from San Lazaro Hospital indicate that case numbers have plateaued and may even be decreasing.
However, an analysis by Dr. Rogelio Alicor Panao of the University of the Philippines suggests that some of the country’s poorest and remotest regions are registering more deaths from leptospirosis than reported cases.
For instance, in 2020, SOCCSKSARGEN recorded just one leptospirosis case but four deaths, while Caraga reported eight cases and 14 deaths in that same year. Even more alarming, BARMM had a single confirmed case in both 2020 and 2021, yet logged two deaths in each of those years, figures that challenge the credibility of official surveillance.
Go expressed his appreciation for the explanation and reiterated the need for continuity in implementing these measures.
“Huwag n’yo pong isakripisyo ang serbisyo sa ating mga kababayan dahil ilang buhay po ang masasakripisyo dito kung ilang pasyente ang hindi natutulungan. ‘Yan po ang aking patuloy na tututukan at patuloy po akong magsasalita kung kakailanganin po. Kaya pakiusap ko lang po sa ating mga health officials, tutukan po ang ating mga pasyente,” he stressed, vowing to continue speaking out to protect patients when necessary.
