ILOILO – To prevent an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and cholera, the 14th Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) set urgent measures by passing resolutions on Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 13.
The four resolutions are as follows:
* a resolution requesting the Department of Health (DOH) in Region 6, Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), together with the Municipal Health Offices/City Health Office of all 42 municipalities and one component city in the Province of Iloilo, to conduct mandatory potable water testing of all water refilling stations within the province of Iloilo, and to inspect whether all water refilling stations in the province possess the necessary business and sanitary permits to operate;
* a resolution calling for a committee investigation on whether the water code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 1067 (December 31, 1976) providing for the utilization, exploitation, development, conservation and protection of water resources is being implemented in the province of Iloilo;
* a resolution encouraging the general public to use boiled water for drinking, and/or to buy water only from licensed refilling stations and other known safe source/s, with further reminder to avoid consumption of improperly cooked food; and
* a resolution requesting all 42 municipalities and one component city in the province to inspect all food establishments to check for permits to operate and proper food handling.
The SP’s passing of these measures, following the privilege speech of 5th District Provincial Board member Carol V. Espinosa-Diaz entitled “Clean our water, save lives”, aims to thwart the advent of yet another outbreak of AGE and cholera.
Diaz expressed the concern after the Iloilo City Health Office recorded 354 cases of AGE with nine deaths and eight positive cases of cholera as of Sept. 4.
“Just as we feared it would happen, the cases have now penetrated the province of Iloilo. As of Sept. 9, 2022, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office has recorded a total number of 26 cases of AGE, 15.56 percent of which is still admitted in various hospitals, 10.36 percent are at home under medication, and only 2.6 percent have recovered. The youngest is a 2-month-old female infant from Cagbang, Oton who as of writing is still admitted in the hospital, followed by a 10-month-old female infant from Manduawak, San Dionisio, who fortunately has already recovered,” part of Diaz’s speech.
Further worrying the Board member was when the province listed its first cholera case from Oton town last Sept. 6, followed by another case from Pavia.
“One culprit identified in Iloilo is the use of unsanitary drinking water in several fast food chains and water refilling stations. There had been allegations that several water refilling stations have unsafe water source and unsuitable filtration system, some of which are operating without proper sanitary or business permits and/or health cards by employees. Still, another cause identified is the continued practice of open defecation in some areas in both the city and province of Iloilo,” said Diaz.
She further said that “it’s very unfortunate that as we are just beginning to recover from the harsh economic upset of COVID-19, another imminent threat to the lives of the people is beginning to surface.”
“It’s like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode any moment. Before our hospitals are swarmed with patients of gastroenteritis or cholera to an unmanageable level, the Iloilo provincial government needs to make a deliberate plan,” added Diaz.
As of Sept. 13, IPHO data showed that there are 38 total cases of AGE and two confirmed cases of cholera recorded in the province./PN
