by Melchor Vergara, AC team member

Ah, the Barangay—the pinnacle of Filipino ingenuity! Where else can you find government programs that mix public service with a game show-like twist?

Enter Mandaluyong’s “May Piso sa Mosquito” campaign, where citizens are rewarded for capturing Dengue-carrying mosquitoes. A noble cause, but one that immediately raises some hard-hitting investigative questions.

First, how exactly will Barangay officials confirm a mosquito is a Dengue carrier? Will there be a rapid test kit for bloodsucking insects? A mosquito interrogation chamber?

Second, what if the mosquito was smuggled in from another Barangay? Will we see an underground mosquito trafficking ring?

Third, are all mosquitoes eligible—dead or alive? Because if so, expect an army of entrepreneurs reviving the dried-up mosquitoes from their electric zappers.

At this rate, Barangays may soon reward citizens for catching potholes, loose electrical wires, and uncollected garbage. Who needs taxes when you can crowdsource governance one peso at a time?