THE Department of Education (DepEd)-Davao said a group of personnel coming from the Davao City Health Office (CHO) has been created to oversee the food preparation for the Palarong Pambansa delegation to prevent possible food poisoning.
DepEd-Davao spokesperson Jenielito Atillo said the food served for the athletes is the responsibility of every delegation.
After an incident in 2018 when several student-athletes of Mati City suffered food poisoning after eating leftover food, organizers are implementing this initiative to prevent another incident in 2019 Palarong Pambansa set in Davao City.
“We conducted orientation, seminars to the personnel assigned in the kitchen, or we call them Kitchen Cabinet to remind them with respect to food preparation and food handling,” Atillo said.
“We do not want to have a repeat of that incident, that’s why we cautioned all the delegations to really prepare food and serve it appropriately,” he added.
Atillo reminded the coaches and heads of the delegation coming from different regions to ensure that their athletes are in good condition before the game to avoid any casualty.
“It is really a requirement that before they will come to Palaro, they are being checked and there is a clearance from medical professionals stating that the athlete is fit to play,” Atillo said.
DepEd has reminded delegates to ensure the physical condition of their athletes.
“Along with that line, we reminded everybody that the sole responsibility lies onto the shoulders of the delegation officials, most particularly the coaches kay coaches man jud ang unang makabantay kung dunay balation ang iyang athlete (The coaches will know first-hand the health condition of their athletes),” he added.
Once they notice unusual behavior of the athletes, they must inform medical people of their delegation and ask for medical assistance from Central 911 positioned in their billeting areas, he added.