By Liza Agoot
BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ordered the deployment of teams to monitor safe water and food handling to avoid a repeat of the diarrhea scare during the 2023 holiday season here.
Magalong said the city has doubled its disease prevention efforts as tourism activities peak during the Christmas and new year celebrations.
“With the influx of people, the demand for food and water increases. And as companies scramble to meet the demand, they tend to set aside caution and safety practices. So, we better be on guard to make sure they keep their safety obligations to their customers lest we face another upsurge in diarrhea cases,” the mayor said.
The city government heightened water and food safety measures to avoid a repeat of the acute gastroenteritis outbreak caused by contaminated drinking water that affected more than 2,000 people toward the end of 2023 until the early part of this year.
The diarrhea scare was traced to the contaminated water not provided by the Baguio Water District. Following the incident, the city government updated its water code ordinance that requires all deep well operators to obtain a permit and for tanker delivery and drinking water delivery clients to report their sources.
City chief information officer Aileen Refuerzo said Friday said the Baguio City Health Services Office, through its Environmental and Sanitation Division, has been conducting close monitoring of drinking water being served in eateries, including their water sources to ensure safe water and food handling.
She said the inspections are conducted with the Permits and Licensing Division and the Public Order and Safety Division of the City Mayor’s Office.
The Baguio City Police Office also checks compliance on sanitary and business permits, health certificates, working permits of food handlers. (PNA)