Zambo City activates Task Force on Safe Water

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=894396
• Tuesday, June 14, 2016

(PNA), LDV/TPGJR

ZAMBOANGA CITY (PNA) -- A task force has been activated to ensure the good quality and safety of water in this city.

The creation of the body, known as Task Force on Safe Water, is pursuant to Executive Order BC-181-2016 Mayor Ma Isabelle Climaco-Salazar issued last week.

The powers and functions of the task force include monitoring of water quality; recommend emergency response, activities and logistics; take active participation in all efforts concerning water quality protection and rehabilitation; and to coordinate with other government agencies and civil society and the concerned sectors in the implementation of measures to prevent and control water and food contamination.

Salazar said the creation of the task force came as a result of the increasing number of diarrhea cases admitted in different local hospitals from March 28 to present that resulted to the declaration of gastroenteritis outbreak in this city last April 25.

Salazar said there is an urgent need and compelling reason to address the situation as the number of cases continues to rise and rapidly spread to other barangays.

The Department of Health’s Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) said rotavirus was the main cause in the recent surge of diarrhea cases in this city and that the main contaminant was the drinking water.

The task force is composed of the City Mayor’s Office as chairperson with members coming from the offices of the City Health, General Services, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and City Planning and Development Coordinator, Department of Health, Department of Science and Technology, USAID-Be Secure, Zamboanga City Medical Center, Zamboanga City Water District and the Liga ng mga Barangay.