MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said on Thursday that the local government has expanded citywide access to doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections, as part of a heightened effort to prevent leptospirosis.
This would ensure that residents exposed to floodwaters would receive prompt treatment, Belmonte told The Manila Times.
Under the enhanced system, doxycycline will be distributed not only in health centers but also through QC Action Offices, designated outreach sites, and accessible community venues such as churches.
She said QCitizens in flooded and high-risk areas who cannot reach these fixed distribution points will receive the medication through house-to-house distribution conducted by community health workers and barangay health emergency response teams.
"After exposure to floodwater, every hour matters. We want to remove barriers to access by bringing doxycycline closer to our communities, especially to residents in areas most vulnerable to flooding," she said.
The city government will also furnish residents receiving the medication with standardized information on leptospirosis prevention, symptoms and treatment.
In addition, a standardized Doxycycline Flood Exposure Kit is being planned for inclusion in emergency go-bags and for distribution to identified priority families, it said.
Data from the Quezon City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division showed that 555 leptospirosis cases were recorded in August, representing 75 percent of all cases reported between January and September 7, 2026.
QCESD chief Rolly Cruz said the city surpassed the epidemic threshold during epidemiological week 32, from August 9 to 15, with cases peaking during weeks 33 and 34, covering August 16 to 29.
Despite the surge in cases, leptospirosis deaths fell by nearly 45 percent, from 85 during the same period last year to 47 this year, Cruz said.
Belmonte said that the decline in fatalities would show that early prevention, consultation, and treatment could save lives.
“But we cannot be complacent. Our goal is to ensure that every resident who may have been exposed knows what to do and can get help quickly," Belmonte said.