Mayor issues EO suspending wearing of dress school uniforms

Mayor Roderick Awingan issued on July 23, Executive Order 102 which temporarily suspends the wearing of dress school uniforms, institutionalizing the Department of Health's "4S" strategy, and mandating all barangays and schools within the municipality of La Trinidad to conduct regular clean-up drives including the 'search and destroy' operations against dengue.

The municipal health data reveals that the municipality recorded 95 dengue cases from January to July of this year, indicating an active presence of the dengue virus that poses a great health risk, particularly to school-aged children, students, and local communities.

Here's an excerpt of the EO:

WHEREAS, the Department of Health (DOH) advocates the "4S" Strategy as an effective framework for dengue prevention and vector control:

a) Search and destroy mosquito-breeding sites,

b) Self-protection measures,

c) Seek early consultation, and

d) Say no to indiscriminate fogging;

WHEREAS, standard school uniforms (e.g., short sleeves, skirts, thin fabrics) expose students' arms and legs to vector mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), increasing their vulnerability to mosquito bites during study hours;

WHEREAS, proactive, sustained, and coordinated community-level interventions

through regular clean-up drives and vector eradication activities are essential to effectively eliminate breeding grounds across all sixteen (16) barangays of La Trinidad;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RODERICK C. AWINGAN, Municipal Mayor of La Trinidad, Benguet, by virtue of the powers vested in me by law, do hereby order and decree the following:

SECTION 1. TEMPORARY SUSPENSION OF SCHOOL DRESS UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

1. Temporary Dress Code Policy: The mandatory wearing of standard school dress uniforms is hereby temporarily suspended across all public elementary, secondary, and senior high schools within the Municipality of La Trinidad. Private educational institutions operating within the municipality are highly encouraged to implement similar flexible attire policies.

2. Permissible Attire: In lieu of standard uniforms, students are strongly advised to wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, full-length pants/slacks, high socks, and closed shoes, to minimize skin exposure to mosquito bites.

3. Equal Treatment & Non-Discrimination: No student shall be barred from entering school premises, attending classes, or taking exams due to non-wearing of standard uniforms, provided their attire remains clean, neat, and appropriate for educational settings.