By Perla Lena/PNA
ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City health office will ensure the safety of the food being sold during the holding of Dinagyang Festival.
Dr. Bernard Caspe, city health officer, during a press conference Wednesday said the city’s sanitary inspectors have been making the rounds of restaurants to check on their food preparations.
“For the food kiosks, I have already written to Mayor (Jose) Espinosa that all food handlers must have health certificates because what we are trying to protect are our tourists,” he said.
The Dinagyang Food Festival by the Iloilo Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants (IHRAA) will open January 24 at Delgado Street, City Proper.
Caspe said there will be sanitary inspectors to check the food being served.
He also urged the public to be vigilant and try to scrutinize the food presentation before buying.
He advised that it would be better if the food is grilled, otherwise, consumers and cooks would have to make sure that they use and serve only fresh food products.
The public are also advised to wash their hands before and after eating.
He added that his office has made proper coordination with city hospitals for their emergency rooms be ready. “We tapped almost all hospitals in the city for teams and ambulances so we have lots of support groups during Dinagyang,” he said.
Caspe said 20 ambulance vehicles will be deployed in strategic places for immediate response.
A team of one doctor and a nurse in each of the five judging areas will also be present.
The Philippine Red Cross–Iloilo chapter will also deploy 150 volunteers apart from the Iloilo City Emergency Response of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
PRC Iloilo chapter service representative Joji Marmolejo in a previous interview said that they will station their mini-hospital at the back of the Bureau of Customs to accommodate severe cases.
Most of those treated last year were members of participating tribes, who were stressed and dehydrated and needed to receive intravenous fluid, and spectators suffering from hypertension and those with fever.
