THE Provincial Board (PB) asked government agencies and authorities to enforce proper sanitation and provide potable drinking water in every school.
A separate resolution requesting the Cebu Provincial Police Office to intensify its peace and order campaign in the opening of classes was also approved.
PB Member Miguel Antonio Magpale sponsored three resolutions telling government agencies to ensure that students consume safe food and water.
These resolutions were approved during the PB’s regular session yesterday.
Sanitation
The PB encouraged the Department of Education (DepEd) 7 and health offices of the municipalities and cities to maintain sanitation of school toilets, especially those areas that lack water supply.
“Despite the possibility of deteriorating sanitation due to the lack of water supply, this august body firmly believes that the Provincial Government should conduct measures to ensure the sanitation of schools as failure to maintain such may lead to serious health risks that may affect children such as cholera, typhoid, and other bacterial infections,” Magpale said in his resolution.
Drinking water
The PB also encouraged DepEd to secure and provide safe drinking water fountains in public and private schools.
Aside from this, the PB also asked local government units to strictly look after canteens and street food stalls to make sure that food being served are properly prepared to avoid contamination.
“Considering the opening of classes this June for Academic Year 2015-2016, school canteens and eateries/food stalls within and near school premises shall be periodically monitored to enforce the maintenance of adequate sanitation and to ensure students’ health,” a part of the resolution read.
In a separate resolution, PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy said it is necessary to deploy police near the schools to protect children from harm.