Price council monitors water refilling stations

By, Nora  C. Sorino,
GSD Iligan Bureau Chief
and Sita Asequia,
Correspondent

ILIGAN City – Water refilling stations in Iligan are in a bind after the Lanao Price Coordinating Council (LPCC) of this city discovered that many did not adhere to the Department of Health’s (DOH) guidelines to ensure safe and quality drinking water.

This was according to Elvira G. Redublado of the Department of Trade and Industry here said that on February 28, 2017 the Lanao Price Coordinating Council (LPCC- Iligan ) deployed 3 monitoring teams to water refilling stations and check their compliance to Department of Health (DOH) stringent guidelines to ensure safety and quality of portable drinking water. In coordination with City Health Officer (CHO) Dr. Cherlina Canveral , 3 sanitary inspectors spearheaded the monitoring activity.

Eng. Evan Lagura led Team 1 covering Tibanga, San Miguel, Sto Rosario, and Hinaplanon area, Ms. Delia Enanoza headed Team 2 covering the area from Tubod to Fuentes and Mr. Douglas Garcia, steere Team 3 to Poblacion, Saray, Pala-o, Del Carmen , Mahayahay and Tambacan.

Redublado said that out of 107 registered water refilling stations, 62 or 58 % were inspected based on CHO checklist for requirements as set by DOH Administrative Order No. 2007-012 or The Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water.

Result of inspection showed that 100% of the inspected water refilling stations did not fully comply or had one or more non-compliance.

Most common non-compliance by water refilling stations are the non-posting or no available updated recent laboratory test results for bacteriological, chemical, and physical analysis; No 2017 sanitary permits and employees health card; non-usage of required personal protecting equipment (PPEs) such as face mask, apron, hairnet, gloves, and boots; and no canopy’/roofing for delivery vehicles.

The CHO has yet to evaluate the result of monitoring and correspondingly will issue sanitary orders to all erring establishments. Likewise, refilling station will be issued notices for application or renewal of business permits and DTI business name registrations.

LPCC- Iligan is all set to enhance its consumer protection activities by outlining their 2017 monitoring and enforcement activities. In this case, LPCC’s goal is to ensure that water refilling stations are providing the residents with safe and potable drinking water Redublado said.