NORTH Cotabato Governor Emmylou J. Taliño-Mendoza has vowed to cooperate with the Senate if it decides to conduct an inquiry into the suspected cholera outbreak in Alamada town that killed 12 people and hospitalized 214 others.
Mendoza said the province is open for investigation on their water resources, which was blamed for the cholera outbreak and gastro intestinal illness in four areas in Alamada. Read the related article.
"In fact, we want all inquiries and studies fast-tracked to bring back normalcy in the area with safe waters and environment," Mendoza said, adding that they are awaiting for the result of the studies conducted by toxicologists to find out the what led to the outbreak.
Alamada Vice Mayor Samuel Alim earlier confirmed that the death toll reached to 12 around 4 p.m. Tuesday, while 214 others were afflicted in Barangay Lower Dado, Barangay Tigcawaran, Barangay Upper Dado, and Barangay Mampurok and were taken to various hospitals.
Reports said residents suspected that the cholera was caused by pesticide sprayed on rice fields and have contaminated the local water supply following a heavy downpour the past few weeks. About 214 people were brought to Alamada Community Hospital and its neighboring hospitals in Midsayap.
Senator Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay earlier filed a Senate Resolution 658, urging the concerned Senate committees to look into the cholera outbreak in Alamada.
She said there is a need to find out what led to the outbreak and how this will be prevented.