DOH wants food vendors out of the NFA area
The Department of Health (DOH) recommends that all street vendors displaying their food stuff near the National Food Authority (NFA) compound in Jaro must be relocated. The foul smell coming from the decomposing rice stocks that were soaked in flood water attracts flies.
DOH Regional Director Lydia Depra-Ramos said they have already tasked their sanitary engineers to make necessary monitoring and inspection the occurrence of diseases.
Ramos said they will coordinate with the city officials to stop the exposure of foods sold within the area to bacterias.
Meanwhile, City Health Office (CHO) head Dr. Urminico Baronda said they have not received any communication from Ramos over the relocation of street vendors. These vendors do not have necessary sanitary permits from the city health.
Baronda added that they have also their own set of sanitary inspectors checking the sanitation of different restaurants and other food-related businesses to make sure the customers are eating clean and safe foods.
He said the best thing to do is to avoid buying the food when one is in doubt of the quality of food they want to eat. It is the prerogative of the buyer to choose clean and safe foods. However, in buying street food, consumers are advised to reheat the food before eating.
Baronda added that they do not have the authority to dismantle all the illegal structures near the NFA selling food. The city mayor has the prerogative to exercise measures especially when it comes to illegal structures. It was learned that these makeshift stalls have no permit.