School, boarding house safety inspected ahead of classes

FROM traffic and security to food and lodging safety, Cebu City and police officials are readying contingencies for next week’s school season opening.

Senior Supt. Mariano Natu-el, acting Cebu City police chief, said more than 50 percent of their personnel will be fielded to man traffic congested areas and secure public and private campuses.

Tarpaulins containing the police hotlines will be hung on each public school while policemen will patrol the port area and terminals to monitor out-of-town students arriving in the city.

Incoming students were also advised not to buy street food and instead buy at their own canteen or pack their own meals. Cebu City Health Officer Stella Ygonia said school canteens will be inspected and required to secure sanitation permits.

“So the moment a canteen applies for a sanitary permit, an inspection is always done even if the canteen is complying with the law,” she said. Sanitation permits are renewed every six months.

Ygonia said they will also inspect stores outside schools particularly the auto-tubig machines (ATM) to see if their water is fit for consumption.

For their part, the Office of the City Building Official will inspect boarding houses for safety.

Asst. Building Official Florante Catalan said there are still many boarding houses that operate without securing occupancy and business permits in Cebu City.

He called on students to report to them any structural defects or fire hazards in their boarding houses. Correspondents Chito Aragon and CNU Intern Jeanymae Ardiente