ILOILO City Health Office (CHO) has ordered closure of some water sources during intensified inspection conducted as acute gastroenteritis (AGE) cases continued to rise, which reached 727 on September 28, 2022.

The cases spread across 126 barangays including 40 barangays with clustering of AGE cases out of total 180 villages, according to CHO Medical Officer IV Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna.

As of September 28, CHO reported 31 water refilling stations (WRS) closed for non-compliance; six permanent closures; while 33 voluntarily ended their operations.

CHO also issued temporary closures to 35 WRS pending test results.

Fortuna said those found to have water contamination and failed to comply with the business and sanitary permit requirements will be closed for six months.

He added they may open again upon complying with permits and passing the tests.

Meanwhile, 312 WRS have sanitary permit out of the total 417 WRS inspected.

CHO noted that 87 wells were condemned or closed as these are unsafe for use.

There were 8,348 wells chlorinated out of total 16,876 wells identified in the barangays.

All 73 public schools’ water sources were also chlorinated.

A more regular water potability testing may be required as determined by CHO to make sure the residents are safe as the city is under an outbreak due to continuous increase in cases of food-and-water-borne diseases.

The CHO advised the public to be vigilant of their sources of water supply and to carefully clean water containers as these can also be contaminated. (PR)