Cebu beefs up disease surveillance, outbreak response

Local

CEBU province is taking a step toward faster, smarter responses to outbreaks.

A new provincial ordinance now requires all local government units (LGUs) and hospitals to set up their own Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (ESUs) to detect, report, and respond to notifiable diseases and other public health events.

At the center of the network is the Provincial Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (PESU) under the Provincial Health Office, which will collect, analyze, and distribute health data across the province.

Officials said the measure addresses long-standing gaps in local disease tracking, especially during outbreaks when timely information is critical.

Previously, much of Cebu’s reporting relied on national systems, limiting the province’s ability to monitor local trends accurately.

Under the ordinance, LGUs and hospitals are tasked with active case finding, investigation, and reporting of diseases.

These ESUs feed data into PESU, forming an interconnected network designed to detect trends early and support faster responses.

The system extends to barangay-level coordinators and health facilities, which will function as frontline surveillance units, submitting data and assisting in outbreak investigations.

At the provincial level, PESU will oversee outbreak investigations, maintain a centralized health database, and coordinate with regional and national authorities.

It is required to submit regular reports—daily for critical cases and weekly for others—to ensure decision-makers have continuous access to information.

The ordinance aligns Cebu’s framework with global standards, including the International Health Regulations of the World Health Organization, as well as national policies such as the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases Act and the Universal Health Care Act.

PESU will also lead training and capacity-building programs to standardize reporting across LGUs and hospitals, and implement cost-effective response measures in line with national guidelines.

Board Member Stanley Caminero emphasized the ordinance gives Cebu legal authority to access health data, including from private institutions.

“This ordinance is a crucial component of our province-wide and even island-wide health system, not only for purposes of reportorial of the reportable disease entities but also in order for concerned institutions not just the local government unit, but also the Department of Health,” Caminero said.

He noted the measure will allow Cebu to generate “accurate and reliable” statistics on disease patterns, critical for policymaking and emergency response.

Caminero added that the ordinance would give the province a truly holistic perspective, a clear future, and accurate data on the status and trends of diseases across Cebu.

The ordinance formalizes staffing for PESU, including epidemiologists, data specialists, and administrative personnel, and assigns clear roles to reduce workload pressures at the Provincial Health Office.

It also mandates coordination with emergency operations centers during outbreaks to ensure data informs response strategies.

Funding for PESU operations and ESU implementation will come from the provincial government.(MyTVCebu)