The Sanitation Division of the City Health Services Office and the Baguio Water District are gathering water samples from different water sources of concerned establishments in the city. Samples are being tested to track down the cause of the contamination. | PHOTO: Official Facebook page of Baguio City PIO / Dr. Donnabel Panes
MANILA, Philippines — Health Undersecretary and spokesperson Eric Tayag said Thursday that one out of 12 water sources in Baguio City has tested positive for contaminants.
The testing was conducted to determine the cause of the increased diarrhea cases in the city, prompting Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong to declare an outbreak.
However, Tayag said the Department of Health (DOH) has no information on the location of the contaminated water source.
“Hindi binigay ng Baguio [City Health Office] sa amin ‘yung information na ‘yun hanggang hindi nila nakukumpleto ‘yung testing para isahang report nalang,” Tayag told INQUIRER.net over the phone.
(The Baguio [City Health Office] did not give us that information until they completed the testing, so it’s just in one report.)
READ: DOH says Baguio City water being checked due to diarrhea outbreak
There is also no information yet on the type of contaminant found in the water, the DOH official noted.
“Kung may specific na nakita kasi, usually sa human sample ‘yun kinukuha hindi sa water. Ang tine-test lang kasi kung contaminated o hindi,” Tayag said.
(If something specific is found, it is usually taken from a human sample, not from water. It is only tested to see if it is contaminated or not.)
“Ongoing pa ‘yung investigation kasi patutubuin pa ‘yung kung ano mang mayroon sa tubig,” he continued.
(The investigation is ongoing because they are cultivating whatever is in the water.)
READ: Baguio City probing rising cases of gastroenteritis linked to dirty water
Tayag further said that the Baguio City Health Office is still waiting for the results of tests conducted on three more water sources.
“May mga tatlo pang pending, walang result kasi ‘yung ginagawa nilang pang testing three days bago lumalabas,” Tayag said.
(There are three more pending; there are no results because the test they are doing needs three days before the result is out.)