Baguio monitors water safety to avoid another diarrhea outbreak

WATER SAFETY. The Baguio City government has commenced the monitoring of water sources as well as food handling in establishments to ensure that the diarrhea scare during the 2023 holiday season will not be repeated. Mayor Benjamin Magalong said some establishments scramble to meet the demand for increased customers during the holiday and tend to set aside safety practices. (PNA file photo)

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Benjamin Magalong has ordered the deployment of teams to monitor safe water and food handling to avoid a repeat of the diarrhea scare during the 2023 holiday season in this city.

Magalong said the city is doubling its disease prevention efforts as tourism activities peak during the Christmas and new year celebrations.

“With the influx of people, the demand for food and water increases. And as companies scramble to meet the demand, they tend to set aside caution and safety practices. So, we better be on guard to make sure that they keep to their safety obligations to their customers lest we face another upsurge in diarrhea cases,” the mayor said.

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The city government heightened water and food safety measures to avoid a repeat of the acute gastroenteritis outbreak caused by contaminated drinking water that affected more than 2,000 people toward the end of 2023 until the early part of this year.

The diarrhea scare was traced to the contaminated water not provided by the Baguio Water District.

Following the incident, the city government updated its water code ordinance that requires all deep well operators to obtain a permit and for tanker delivery and drinking water delivery clients to report their sources.

Aileen Refuerzo, city chief information officer, on Friday said the Baguio City Health Services Office, through the Environmental and Sanitation Division, have been conducting close monitoring of the drinking water being served in food establishments, including their water sources to ensure safe water and food handling.

She said the inspections are conducted with the Permits and Licensing Division and the Public Order and Safety Division of the City Mayor’s Office.

The Baguio City Police Office also checks compliance on sanitary and business permits, health certificates, working permits of food handlers.