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Monday, April 25, 2005
DTI, DOH aid needed to set up food outlets in schools by June
TO promote safety in public schools, a City councilor wants other government agencies to help the Department of Education (DepEd) in putting up canteens within school premises.
Councilor Arsenio Pacaña urged DepEd officials to tie up with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to make sure all public schools will have a canteen when classes begin this June.
In the wake of the food poisoning incident in Mabini, Bohol last month, Pacaña saw the need for school canteen personnel to undergo food handling and safety seminar, which the DOH can provide.
DTI and DOH should help Deped by providing appropriate entrepreneurial skills training, funding and adoption of food handling and other safety measures, he said.
“To ensure the safety and health of students especially in public schools, it is essential that government agencies such as DTI and DOH lend a helping hand to ensure the viability and sustainability of DepEd’s program,” said Pacaña.
Last March 9 in Bohol, 27 students of San Jose Elementary School in Mabini died and more than a hundred were injured due to pesticide poisoning after eating a delicacy made from cassava.
DepEd Secretary Florencio Abad already ordered all schools to put up a canteen and for school representatives to undergo training on nutrition and food safety to avoid a similar incident.
While the policy is laudable, Pacaña said more agencies should be involved in protecting the health and welfare of the students.
He also agreed with DepEd 7 Director Carolino Mordeno that the Parents Teachers Community Association (PTCA) should also help establish canteens by next school year, “no matter how small.”
The Cebu City Council is expected to tackle Pacaña’s resolution during their regular session on Wednesday. LCR
(April 25, 2005 issue)
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