50 more student-athletes get sick in sports meet

Davao City officials are reminding leaders of delegations to the Davao Region Athletic Association meet to ensure that food and water served to students and coaches are clean to avoid poisoning cases. —ARJOY M. CENIZA

DAVAO CITY — At least 50 more athletes competing in this year’s Davao Region Athletic Association games hosted by the city government fell sick on Sunday night, barely a day after 38 others, including some coaches, were taken to hospitals over suspected food poisoning.

But Jenilito Atillo, spokesperson for the Department of Education (DepEd) in Southern Mindanao, said although the 50 athletes from Tagum City and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley and Davao Oriental had complained of abdominal pains, vomiting and nausea, it was still unclear what caused these pending results of an investigation being done by the Davao City health office.

He said Alberto Escobarte, DepEd Southern Mindanao director, had already ordered an investigation into the incident, as well as Saturday’s food poisoning that downed 38 athletes and coaches from Mati City.

Earlier, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said it appeared that Saturday’s food poisoning was triggered by the serving of leftover food.

Carpio said food served to Mati athletes and coaches on Saturday was prepared and cooked by the kitchen staff that the contingent brought in for the games.

“It was likewise reported that they may have allowed the athletes to drink from water sources not cleared for human consumption,” she said.

Atillo said 32 of 50 athletes who got sick on Sunday had been taken to the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here for further medical attention. Those taken to the hospital mostly came from the Tagum City contingent.

He said 31 had been discharged also on Sunday while the remaining athlete taken to SPMC was scheduled to leave the hospital on Monday. —Allan Nawal