At least 80 water refilling station operators in the cities and municipalities of Negros Oriental and Occidental, including San Carlos, Canlaon, Sagay, Escalante, Calatrava, Toboso, and Binalbagan are undergoing a two-day basic training/seminar on water sanitation and safety planning, that started July 18 in San Carlos City.
The seminar is facilitated by the City Health Office with the San Carlos City Negros Occidental Purified Water Refilling Station Association Inc. (SCCNO-PWRS).
SCCNO-PWRS president Maria Janet Nakahara said the training/seminar is a mandatory requirement of the Department of Health Region 6, aimed at fulfilling water safety requirements necessary for renewing the business permit of all water refilling stations.
Nakahara added that besides completing the seminar, operators must be equipped with knowledge on water safety and sanitation to prevent cholera outbreaks.
She also said they are required to conduct bacteriology tests every month and physicochemical laboratory tests every six months, with the results reported to the council.
Sanitary inspector IV Eleakim Lasco from the CHO said that after the seminar, participants are required to create their own water safety plan, as stipulated by the DOH, and to be updated every three years.
San Carlos Mayor Renato Gustilo stressed the importance of establishing an association for water refilling stations (WRS), regulated by the local government, for water safety delivery to the public, the city said in a press release.
He urged operators to implement synchronized pricing across all refilling stations, and assured them that the government is ready to assist with their needs.
Among the resource speakers are from DOH 6, including Engr. Joemer Fayo and Faye Abhe Pedrosa of the Environmental and Occupational Health (EOH) Section, sanitary engineer Lucio Santa Maria – head of Water Lab, Dennar Jun Andrada Romey, EOH coordinator Marilyn Ostan, and nurse Matt John Hermano.
Discussions include environmental laws, implementing rules and regulations for WRS, Philippine National Standard for Drinking Water, Bottled Water, Local Drinking Water Quality Monitoring Committee and Water Safety Planning, plumbing, water treatment/purification technologies, operation/maintenance of equipment, and personal hygiene. ||
