THE Three Z Carnival on Recto Avenue in Cagayan de Oro City has failed to comply with the city's basic sanitary requirements, a City Council official said.
During an ocular inspection, City Councilor Dante B. Pajo has noted that the carnival lacks comfort rooms and potable water for the use of its patrons.
Pajo, who chairs the City Council committee on health and sanitation, said the availability of comfort rooms and water system are very important amenities of any public amusement centers such as the carnival.
“We were surprised because they did not provide any comfort rooms even for the personal use of the carnival staff. When we do our inspection, we even saw the operator, Zenaida Unabia, taking a bath,” Pajo said.
He said Unabia entertained the inspection team while taking a bath but promised to comply with the requirements.
Aside from the lack of comfort rooms and water, Pajo said the carnival also lack trash cans.
“The area has no proper garbage disposal. Mineral bottles and plastics are seen anywhere and grasses were not trimmed,” Pajo added.
He said the carnival is not “fit to operate” as the operator did not “prioritize cleanliness” of the area, which might lead to certain diseases such as dengue.
However, he did not order for the closure of the carnival as he only asked the operator to comply with the basic sanitary requirement.
Pajo said Unabia promised to comply with the requirement “the soonest.”
Earlier, the City Council’s committee on games and amusement chaired by
Councilor Adrian L. Barba has recommended for the temporary closure of the carnival’s Ferris wheel ride.
This followed after Barba’s inspection team found out that the Ferris wheel reportedly used hardwood as its base which would not guarantee safety of the riders.
However, Unabia said they have already fixed the Ferris wheel and is now functioning.
Aside from the Three Z Carnival, Pajo also inspected Mary Rose Carnival in Limketkai Center along with his sanitary inspection team and some representatives of the City Public Services Office.
Pajo said he instructed the management of the two carnivals to put up a first aid corner to immediately address unexpected minor accidents within its premises.
“The inspection team will always have a routine check of these two carnivals to ensure if they really comply with the requirements,” he said.
He added that if the carnival owners will not comply with the request, the committee will recommend closure of the two carnivals.
rThe carnivals have been put up since August 1 to provide entertainment to the residents in time for the feast of St. Augustine, the city’s patron saint, on August 28. (NJM)