THE City Health Office (CHO) in Cagayan de Oro has recognized the top three best restaurants in the city which complied with the food and sanitation standards set by the health office.
Fe Bongcas, CHO head, said the annual recognition of best restaurants in the city is to encourage compliance of the city health's standards in health and sanitation as part of the city administration's promotion of health and food safety in the city.
"We are doing this evaluation with the restaurants in order to promote health and sanitation in the whole Cagayan de Oro. So, we are encouraging those who have not entered yet, by next year, you should because this is good for you," Bongcas said.
According to Bongcas, eleven establishments entered the competition but only nine were evaluated as two restaurants failed to qualify.
The nine qualified restaurants were: (1) Cusina Higala, (2) Candy's Place, (3) Dear Manok, (4) Bucket O'Shrimp, (5) Country Village Hotel Restaurant, (6) Hungry Plate, (7) The Barn, (8) Buffalo Grill, and (9) Papsy's Bbq.
Only the top three establishments, Cusina Higala, Candy's Place and Dear Manok, were each given a plaque of appreciation.
The qualified restaurants were evaluated in terms of the establishments' (1) demerits; (2) water potability, if the restaurant conducted a regular sampling of water potability and has a sufficient supply of water; (3) permits and health certificates, wherein sanitary permit is displayed and the health certificate of the workers are updated; (4) food safety, no costumer complaints within a year and the protection of food displayed; (4) sanitary facility where the working condition in the restaurant, toilet facility and management of solid and liquid waste were inspected; and general sanitation wherein the general conditions of the staff and the equipment used in the restaurant are in good condition, Bongcas said.
The evaluation of the restaurants, according to Bongcas, started in October until November and the establishments were awarded and recognized on Monday, December 18.