SP to pass
Sanitation Code
Sangguniang Panglungsod's Committee on Health is
now fine tuning the city's Sanitation Code.
SP Member Phillip Gerard Maisog, led the council members of the
committee during the public hearing on August 14 at the SP Session Hall. Before
an audience of less than 20, the committee presented the proposed City
Ordinance based on Presidential Decree No. 856 or the Sanitation Code of the
Philippines.
Required tests
One of the code's salient points is on Section 3A.02 requires
all applicants for Health Certificates to undergo fecalysis, urinalysis, complete
blood count, chest x-ray, and hepatitis profile. However, Ray Marabillo,
sanitation officer at the City Health Office contested that applicants will
find it difficult to comply with this requirement because most of them are only
contractual workers working for grocery stores or fast food chains.
Dr. Arniel Lawrence Portuguez, City Health Office head, also
added that some health certificate applicants are pedicab drivers who can
barely afford the entire processing cost for the renewal of their driver's
license. Portuguez said that it is his practice to examine the applicants
first. Then he'd recommend the tests they should undergo if their medical
history and present conditions warrant the need for testing.
Required vaccines
The same section of the code also requires food handlers to be
vaccinated for Hepatitis A and typhoid while those workers who are not handling
food should get Hepatitis B shots. The CHO head said these vaccines are not
available at CHO for free. Only private physicians give them at expensive
costs.
The committee has resolved to revise the section and maintain
the suggestion of Portuguez and those present during the hearing that tests be
only required from applicants upon the recommendation of a government doctor
after he/she has conducted physical exam.
Other provisions of the code include providing proper covers
for cooked food displayed in counters, monthly bacteriology testing for potable
water in refilling stations, and prohibition of smoking in all restaurants,
fast food chain and carenderias.
SP Health Committee will accept other suggestions from
residents especially from business owners and workers that sell, process, store
and handle food.
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