Probe on "food poisoning": "Cuts" to bus drivers affect food quality in floating resto? Ric V. Obedencio

LOBOC, BOHOL, Philippines — The giving of "hefty commissions" to drivers of tourist bus or vans may have adversely affected the quality of foods served to patrons of floating restaurants on the world-famous river cruise in this town.

Provincial Board Member Cesar Tomas Lopez, a medical doctor by profession, relayed this information as initial findings of the ongoing investigation over the alleged food poisoning of 27 students recently.

Lopez, during the session of the PB, told his colleagues that every bus driver gets a cut of P100 for every P350 paid by every tourist for food served on the floating restaurant. And this jeopardized the quality of food served because the owner may be forced to make some adjustments on preparation of food for the customers to cut cost.

The giving of "hefty cash commissions" to the drivers may be an offshoot of cut-throat competition among the floating restaurant businesses here, said Lopez.

Probers initially found the shrimps, served by a floating restaurant to 91 students and three teachers, were likely the culprit, although this matter was not conclusive at this point because the stool samples of the victims were still undergoing lab tests, he said.

Lopez said students and teachers were from the Bohol Island State University on a study tour last Sept. 25 when the incident of alleged food poisoning took place. Only 27 students were however rushed to the hospital in Tagbilaran City, while one was brought home by parents.

Investigators from the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Health initially traced the incident to the food the students ate at the floating restaurant that day. The students have eaten "junk foods" brought with them on the bus then had their lunch on the floating restaurant where they partake with a lot of food, including the shrimps.

They later took their snacks at Sevilla town and dinner in one of the resorts in Panglao island. It was then that the students started to vomit. "Their stools were watery," but it could not be ascertained yet if they were afflicted with amoebiasis or gastroenteritis until after the lab tests.

Lopez said that Ronald Varquez, owner of the Busay Monarch floating restaurant where the alleged "spoiled" food was served during lunch, shouldered the hospital expenses.

PB Member Godofreda Tirol, tourism committee member, said the matter is now referred to the committees on health and tourism for inquiry in aid of legislation. (FREEMAN)