Schools ordered to check water system

The Department of Education (DepEd) Region 6 has directed its 21 schools divisions to check the water system of schools to ensure having clean drinking water for the consumption of students and educators.

The order came amid the rising cases of acute gastroenteritis in many areas in the region.

Regional director Ramir Uytico said it is DepEd’s responsibility to prevent the disease from infecting learners who take face-to-face classes in school.

“The divisions should check their water source, water tanks, and faucets, especially hand-washing areas,” Uytico said.

He also advised learners and teachers not to use tap water in schools for drinking.

“At the regional office, I will require our medical officer to always coordinate with our medical officers in all 21 divisions because I don’t want to say that this is just in Iloilo City. We will always engage our medical officers to go around schools and to check the water systems there,” Uytico said.

The local governments of EB Magalona, Silay City and Talisay City recently reported that their health offices have already inspected the water sources in schools and also the food sold nearby.

Ian Arnold Arnaez, information officer of the DepEd Negros Occidental Division, said that majority of schools in the province already use water dispensers and their drinking water comes from the water refilling stations.

“Tap water is used only for comfort rooms and washing purposes only,” Arnaez pointed out.

Arnaez said medical officer Dr. Joey Villarosa informed him that cholera precautions have already been incorporated in the division’s procedures for school-based management of water sanitation and hygiene.

In elementary and secondary schools, all school canteen personnel and operators must also have the necessary sanitation permits and health cards, he added.

The DepEd water and food sanitation drive is in coordination with the local government units, Arnaez said.

Negros Occidental has tallied 24 confirmed cholera cases, two of whom have died, according to a report by the Provincial Health Office.

The provincial government has recorded its first case since 2019 in January 2022.

Since January, six have died and over 600 people have been inflicted with the disease.

Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson called on local government units in the province to organize their respective drinking water quality monitoring committees amid the increase in waterborne diseases.

The World Health Organization said cholera is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.