City Hall to seize outdoor water vending machines

With contamination a real risk, the Cebu city governor will start regulating the operation of coin-operated water vending machines.

The units, popularly known as automated tubig machine (ATM), will be confiscated if they are placed outdoors exposed to the elements.

The Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (GASA) of the Cebu City government said there was a big chance that water vending machines placed outside establishments and along sidewalks were contaminated.

“It should never be placed outdoors” where the units would not be properly attended and may be the target of vandals at night, said Dr. Stella Ygonia, City Health Officer.

Ygonia said the CHO is strengthening implementation of the sanitation code after water samples of seven out 14 water vending machines in barangay Pahina Central were found contaminated mostly by E. Coli bacteria which comes from human waste.

“We informed (operators), especially in city proper like Colon and Osmeña Boulevard. If nobody is there to receive the notice, we will paste it on the machines so they won’t have a reason to deny,” said Lucelle Mercado, chairperson of the GASA Board.

Establishments have to put their water vending machines inside. If they’re not food establishments, they have to secure a sanitary permit from the CHO and a health card for the attending operator. Health card holders are required to undergo x-ray and stool examinations.

Wendell Cenas of the Prevention, Restoration, Order, Beautification and Enhancement (PROBE) said that owners of confiscated machines will have to undergo a 1 to 2-hour seminar and pay a P500 fine before the machine is returned to them.

A second offense is meted the same penalty while a third offense results in permanent confiscation of the machine.