In Pampanga, floods carry diseases, thirst

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A sharp increase in the number of diarrhea cases in at least six flooded villages in Masantol, Pampanga, has been contained, the chief of the provincial health office (PHO) said on Tuesday.

The 50 cases reported on Friday last week dropped to less than 10 in the villages of Sapang Kawayan, Sagrada Familia, Alauli, Nigui, Balibago and Bagang on Tuesday, said Dr. Antonio Aquino, acting PHO chief.

The Department of Health in Central Luzon has not declared a diarrhea outbreak. However, it advised residents in still flooded areas, or in villages reeling from floods, to boil drinking water as impurities may have contaminated deep well pumps, the common source of water in the flooded villages. No death has been reported.

Dr. Aquino said the provincial government had distributed chlorine solution and bottled water to flood-hit communities.

The province of Ilocos Sur lent a water filtration equipment for the use of the towns of Candaba, San Luis, San Simon, Apalit, Macabebe and Masantol, according to Aquino. The Bureau of Fire Protection has sent trucks carrying water for the mobile filtration equipment.

Members of the Philippine Medical Association reported taking water samples in the villages and found these to be positive with coliform and E. coli bacteria.

These bacteria are usually found in the waters of the Pampanga River beyond normal standards, according to tests done by the Environmental Management Bureau here.

The provincial board has given the Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI) the green light to begin a study to convert surface water, including floodwater, from the Pampanga River into drinking water for the province.

The study won’t cost the provincial government anything, Pampanga officials said.

The MWSI, owned by businessman Manuel Pangilinan, plans to set up a facility to produce potable water from the Pampanga River. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon