BY GLENDA TAYONA
ILOILO City – Eighty-five or almost half of the 180 barangays in this southern city now have cases of acute gastroenteritis (AGE), data from the City Health Office (CHO) showed.
The AGE death toll also climbed to nine while the cases have now reached 354 including eight confirmed cholera cases.
“May urgency ni. Kinanglan alalayan ta, kinanglan buligan ta ang mga barangays. We have prepared an advocacy campaign,” said Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.
The city government is pooling all its available resources and manpower. The CHO has tapped the City Compliance Team, City Engineer’s Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and Public Employment Office, specifically the 400 TUPAD beneficiaries, to help clean and chlorinate deep wells in the barangays.
“Buloligan ta gid ni. Naghatag kita tiempo para sa COVID, nag-abot ang dengue and monkeypox, and now the food and waterborne diseases. Subong tanan nga efforts ta focus diri,” said Treñas.
The city government asked barangay captains and CHO sanitary inspectors to inspect water refilling stations, food establishments as well as water sources.
“It is very challenging because kadamo gid sang mga bubon, kadamo sang water refilling stations,” said Treñas.
According to CHO focal person Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, of the 19,000 deep and tube wells in the city, 10,855 have already been inspected. Of these, 541 were chlorinated while 25 were recommended for “condemnation” or permanent closure.
So far, 39 deep wells tested positive for both E. coli and coliform while 15 were positive for coliform.
On the other hand, 29 water refilling stations were issued with closure orders. Eight of these were closed down last week; 21 will be shut down this week.
Most of them lacked the necessary documents to operate such as sanitary permit and water potability test, according to Dr. Annabelle Tang, CHO officer-in-charge.
The CHO has listed 241 water refilling stations here. Of the 188 that have been inspected, 50 have no necessary documents to operate.
BARANGAYS WITH AGE CASES
As of Sept. 4, 2022, AGE cases per district are as follows: Arevalo – 47; City Proper-Sto. Rosario – 39 and City Proper-Tanza – 61; Jaro I – 46 and Jaro II – 8; La Paz – 19; Lapuz – 29; Mandurriao – 22; and Molo – 83.
The 85 specific barangays with AGE cases are the following:
* Arevalo – Bonifacio (Arevalo) 2, Calaparan 15, Dulonan 2, Mohon 1, Quezon 1, San Jose (Arevalo) 1, Santa Cruz 4, Santa Filomena 1, Santo Niño Norte 7, Santo Niño Sur 7, So-oc 3, and Yulo Drive 3;
* City Proper (Sto. Rosario) – Concepcion-Montes 1, General Hughes-Montes 2, Hipodromo 2, Legaspi dela Rama 2, Monica Blumentritt 4, Muelle Loney-Montes 1, Ortiz 1, Santo Rosario-Duran 7, Veterans Village 2, and Zamora-Melliza 17;
* City Proper (Tanza) – Gloria 1, Kahirupan 2, Maria Clara 3, Rizal Estanzuela 21, Rizal lbarra 4, Rizal Pala-pala I 3, Rizal Pala-pala II 13, Tanza-Esperanza 3, and Timawa Timawa II 11;
* Jaro 1 – Benedicto 9, Cuartero 2, Dungon A 1, Dungon B 12, Fajardo 1, Maria Cristina 1, Our Lady of Fatima 3, Our Lady of Lourdes 1, Sambag 4, San Isidro 6, San Pedro 1’ San Roque 1, Simon Ledesma 4;
* Jaro II – Balabago 3, Cubay 1, Lanit 1, Tabuc Suba 2, and Tacas 1;
* La Paz – Baldoza 4, Banuyao 1, Divinagracia 1, Gustilo 1, Ingore 5, Jereos 1, Lopez Jaena Norte 2, Nabitasan 2, and San Isidro 2;
* Lapuz – Alalasan 4, Don Esteban 4, Lapuz Norte 4, Mansaya 2, Bo. Obrero 9, and Sinikway (Bangkerohan Lapuz) 9;
* Mandurriao – Bakhaw 1, Bolilao 2, Calahunan 1, Guzman-Jesena 2, Hibao-an Norte 15, and PHHC Block 22 NFA 1;
* Molo – Calumpang 13, Compania 2, East Baluarte 3, Habog-Habog Salvacion 2, Infante 2, Kasingkasing 6, Katilingban 2, Molo Boulevard 19, North Baluarte 12, North Fundidor 1, San Juan 13, San Pedro 2, South Baluarte 1, South San Jose 1, Taal 1, West Habog-habog West 2, and Timawa 1.
LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS
For long-term solution, Treñas said the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water (MPIW), the city’s major water distributor, has to fast-track the water distribution pipes or pipe laying for safe water supply in areas which do not have water connections yet.
“Kay kon pipe water na gid ni, sigurado kita nga ang water nga nagalab-ot sa aton balay safe,” said Treñas.
The city mayor learned that some enterprising concessionaries of MPIW sell their water to their neighborhood, and pipes connected to their ‘clients’ houses are submerged in filthy water canals.
Treñas advised these people to directly connect to the MPIW lines to ensure the safety of their water supply.
“Ginpasalig man sang Metro Pac and MIWD nga pahapuson man nila ang mga requirements mag-apply water connections,” said Treñas.
Another solution being eyed is the establishment of communal toilets. Treñas said the city government is identifying the barangays where communal toilets are needed.
Communal toilets can be desludged regularly to avoid overflowing and contaminating water sources.
The city government is also eyeing overhead water tankers supplied with safe water by MPIW.
“You know there are certain areas nga indi gid pwede ang mga shallow wells like ang mga areas nga lapit sa patyo kag mga septic tanks,” Treñas further explained./PN