ILOILO CITY, Iloilo, Philippines —Barangay officials in Iloilo province are intensifying their campaign against leptospirosis.

Iloilo Board Member and President of Liga ng Mga Barangay-Iloilo Jeneda Salcedo-Orendain disclosed that the campaign to stop the spread of leptospirosis is being done in the grassroots level.

At the 2011 Liga ng mga Barangay Day held at the Iloilo Sports Complex Sunday,Salcedo-Orendain explained that leptospirosis victims are found in the barangays and the key to preventing an outbreak must also be addressed in the barangay level.

The Liga, together with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) and the Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO), are conducting a series of awareness programs.

Salcedo-Orendain said the threat posed by leptospirosis should be properly disseminated, especially among farmers here.

According to the Department of Health (DoH 6), Iloilo province has the most number of leptospirosis cases in Western Visayas. The health agency has recorded 148 cases and 12 deaths in Iloilo alone.

Health officials are attributing the rising number of leptospirosis cases to rats infesting farmlands in 31 towns across the province. Majority of the infected are farmers wading in wet farmlands infested by rats.

Salcedo-Orendain further added that the health and agricultural problems were among the issues discussed by barangay officials last Sunday.

Such discussions were in line with the theme “Making the barangay a responsible steward of Mother Earth,” which gave emphasis to environmental programs being undertaken by the administration of Iloilo Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr.