A village in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippine has launched a campaign to reduce dengue cases by paying residents to catch mosquitoes and larvae.
The initiative, called May Piso sa Mosquito (There’s Peso in Mosquito), started on Wednesday and offers one Philippine peso ($0.017) for every five mosquitoes or larvae collected.
The project has drawn attention, with at least 36 residents participating so far.
One individual earned nine pesos after gathering 45 mosquito larvae.
However, concerns have been raised that some people might breed mosquitoes to claim the reward.
Despite criticism from the Department of Health, which suggests waste management as a better solution, local officials defend the program as a way to control the spread of dengue.
Since January, the country has recorded 28,234 dengue cases and 21 deaths, marking a 40% rise compared to the same period last year.
Dengue is a mosquito-borne viral disease that can be fatal.
The World Health Organization reported over 14 million dengue cases and 10,000 deaths globally in 2024.