DepEd urges school officials to oversee effective management of canteens

MANILA, Oct 2 (PNA) -- The Department of Education (DepEd) on Tuesday urged all regional and division officials to oversee effective management of school canteens following a recent food poisoning incident in an elementary school in Tondo.

Education Secretary Jesli Lapus cited department order No. 52 which provides that food supplier must have business and sanitary permits while food handlers are required to have health certificates.

Under the same department order, the school canteens officials should also coordinate with their municipal health office for the periodic monitoring of food preparations and packaging.

Lapuz reminded the local schools officials that a monitoring team should be created to ensure compliance to standards, quality and safety of the foods being served in the school canteens.

Last Friday, some 112 students complained of dizziness and stomach pain after eating mais con yelo at the school canteen of the Jose Corazon de Jesus Elementary School in Tondo, Manila.

It was the second major food poisoning since June this year when around 100 pupils from Cupang, Pantay and Yapak Elementary schools in Antipolo City were hospitalized due to severe stomach aches reportedly from eating contaminated rice cakes or puto.

According to DepEd, an ice plant in Manila was reportedly the source of contaminated water that led to food poisoning.

Thelma Santos, DepED Assistant Secretary for special concerns, confirmed the report but stressed that Manila health office is still conducting further test and verification.

Santos said the DepED will take the necessary recommendation to other government agencies like Departments of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Trade and Industry (DTI) for proper disposition should the test yield positive result.

In this connection, the DepEd will conduct an orientation seminar on revised implementing guidelines on the operation and management of school canteens in public elementary and secondary schools from October 1 to December 12 nationwide.