Capitol to monitor water cleanliness

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Provincial Government will enforce stricter monitoring on the cleanliness of the water distributed to residents of the province.

Through Resolution 1896 approved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, the Province of Cebu has ordered all local government units and water utilities of each city and municipality to undergo sewerage or septage and sanitation programs.

In the resolution, the author, 6th District Representative Thadeo Jonkie Ouano, wrote that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has identified multiple sampling points in the province where the water has breached the normal sanitation standards.

In the resolution, the poor sanitation standards have posed multiple health hazards for residents in the province.

"Outbreaks of water-borne diseases has occurred in a number of localities affecting the health of countless Cebuanos even the whole of the Philippines, as dengue is prevalent in other localities," read part of the resolution.

Just last month, the Department of Health (DOH) declared a nationwide dengue epidemic following the massive spike in the dengue cases in various parts of the nation and with a reported death count of 633 patients.

Although the Province of Cebu claims it did not cross the epidemic threshold, the numbers of reported dengue cases from the beginning of the year up until last month still surpassed the number of dengue cases of the same months last year.

The resolution has been approved by the Sangguiniang Panlalawigan and copies of the document will be forwarded to the Metro Cebu Water District, water agencies and utilities in the province, the DENR, the DOH, the Department of Public Works and Highways and all mayors in the province. (FREEMAN)