Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte is keen on imposing more requirements on the street food vendors to prevent the recent diarrhea outbreak to happen again that took the lives of six individuals after consuming ‘isaw’ and tapioca in Rasay St., Toril, Davao City.
Foremost of the measures is to require vendors to get a health card from the City Health Office (CHO).
“Naa nami initial na mga steps na gusto buhaton ug gusto mahitabo. Kinahanglan pud nako ang cooperation sa barangay and CHO. Kinahanglan na gyud nato istriktuhan. Dili nato gusto na mahitabo na pag-usab tungod lang sa pagkaon. Isa na ang health card. There will be more requirements. They have to comply to health standards,” Duterte said during the Special Hour with Mayor Baste over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on Thursday.
On July 29, 2022, based on the final conclusive report, CHO head Dr. Ashley Lopez announced that the diarrhea outbreak was due to a foodborne microorganism, with Vibrio cholera as the pathogen of concern, which is the most likely vehicle of transmission is contaminated food.
“Naa gyud nangamatay ato na mga tao, unom na kabuok. Maayo ng naa tay adjustments na buhaton isa na ang health card, isa lang na. But I will require the barangay and the CHO to collaborate gyud niani sa pagplastar sa mga street vendors nato,” Duterte said.
“Niadto ang namatyan sa akoa sa opisina. Giingnan nako sila kung mukaso mo, ubanan ta mo. Pero ang sulti sa pamilya, dili lang mayor. Tungod lang sa kapabayaan sa pagkaon unya mawad-an mo ug kinabuhi ibutang pud unta ninyo ang inyong kaugalingon sa mga biktima,” Duterte added.
Lopez said CHO is currently coordinating with multiple agencies, offices, and departments to ensure strict enforcement of existing rules on food handling, surveillance to other related activities.
“We are for the regulation of street vendors in compliance with the relative laws, but we also look forward to lobbying legislation in improving the Sanitary Ordinance of this City,” he said.
Lopez also announced that the drinking water in Toril serviced by the Davao City Water District (DCWD) is clean and safe.
The diarrhea outbreak was declared over on July 29, 2022.
