BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has ordered the closure of 61 water refilling stations in Bacolod City for operating without sanitary and business permits.
Of the 142 water refilling stations in Bacolod City inspected by the Environmental and Sanitation Division, under the City Health Office, 61 were found to have no sanitary and business permits.
The CHO earlier recommended the temporary stoppage of operation of 61 water refilling stations in Bacolod City, pending compliance with sanitary and business permits.
Benitez said he wants the City Public Information Office to publish the names of 61 water refilling stations so that the people of Bacolod may be aware.
The inspection of water refilling stations in Bacolod City was triggered after a 37-year-old resident of Brgy. Mansilingan in Bacolod City, tested positive of cholera. While she has already recovered, Benitez still ordered the CHO to further intensify their monitoring of water refilling stations in the city.
NEGROS OCC. CASES
On the other hand, there are now seven cases of cholera in Negros Occidental.
This was after two more cases of cholera were reported by the Provincial Health Office, in Silay City, as of September 29.
Of the cases, Silay City have now five cholera cases, including one fatality, and one each in Victorias City and EB Magalona.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said that the increasing number of cholera cases appears to be alarming, “since its focus now is not on one local government unit.”
Although the number is considered small, but if we don’t do anything about it, it can spread, Lacson stressed.
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Ernell Tumimbang earlier said that the declaration of a cholera outbreak in Brgy. Guinhalaran, Silay City, is more of an “educational campaign” to raise awareness of the people against water contamination.*
