City health office warns of ‘unsafe’ refreshments amid summer heat

By Joseph B.A. Marzan

The Iloilo City Health Office (ICHO) on Monday warned of refreshments from food establishments that may not be in accordance with food safety standards, amid the rising heat in the city and the country.

Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna of the ICHO said in a radio interview that while keeping the body hydrated is highly encouraged, the public must also ensure that what they’re consuming is sanitary and safe.

Fortuna pointed out that vendors must visibly display or wear their sanitary permits and health cards, as well as show their food preparation process if possible.

This warning was not only aimed at rolling stores and ambulant food vendors, but also at brick-and-mortar food establishments like restaurants that provide service water to consumers.

“We notice that there are lots of street foods right now, especially halo-halo. We just have to make sure that we can see that it is cleanly prepared,” Fortuna told Bombo Radyo-Iloilo.

“The [ICHO] issues health cards and sanitary permits to establishments where people buy food items. [The public] needs to check if these are complete,” he added.

Fortuna also assured that so long as the ice used in drinks is prepared in a safe space and is not exposed to contaminants, it would be safe to consume.

“As long as it is prepared well, not being in a contaminated area because sometimes it falls to the floor or is prepared on a dirty table and that may cause problems, but if the handling and preparation is okay, then there would be no problem.”

The ICHO had warned about unsafe food preparation last year after a surge in cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE) and cholera, going as far as declaring a state of calamity in September 2022.

The weekly AGE data as of March 29 indicated 128 cases this year, with 5 active cases admitted or being treated at home, and 0 deaths.

The Iloilo City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office stated that the heat index as of Monday, April 3, was at 42 degrees Celsius, citing data by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The Department of Health (DOH) on Monday also advised the public to stay hydrated, wear comfortable clothes, and avoid contact with direct sunlight.