BAGUIO CITY – The City Health Services Office (CHSO) is preparing the guidelines governing the implementation of a sanitation contest among all food establishments in the different parts of the city dubbed “’Golden Sandok’ to sustain their adherence to health and sanitation standards in the provision of services to their clients.
Charles Bryan Carame, sanitary engineer of the CHSO, said the program will be spread over a period of 3 years to ensure the compliance of all establishments to the prescribed health and sanitation standards to improve the quality of services provided to their customers.
He admitted there were some lapses on their part in the monitoring of establishments complying with the health and sanitation standards, aside from the fact that there were also lapses on the part of the owners of food establishments in their compliance to the prevailing standards as shown by reports on the presence of numerous establishments that have alleged poor sanitation.
Under the enhanced sanitation program, the sanitary engineer explained for the first year, the contest will be done at the district level where establishments will be categorized and judged under their classifications on their adherence to the prevailing health and sanitation standards among other criteria that may be provided for such purpose.
In the second year of implementation, the contest will be expanded in coverage before it will be opened to a citywide contest among the different establishments under different classifications ascertained in consultation with health and sanitation experts and the members of the board of judges.
Carame revealed the city government can offer minimal prizes for the winners in the different categories in the district and city levels, but they will also be given quality memorabilia as their tokens for being adjudged as winners of the contest.
According to him, the sanitation division of the CHSO is currently re-strategizing the conduct of inspections on all food establishments in the city to ensure their strict compliance to the set health and sanitation standards to prevent poor sanitation in the different food establishments in the city.
He urged owners of food establishments to strictly comply with prevailing health and sanitation standards as their contributions in ensuring the cleanliness of food establishments around the city to avoid complaints that could cause the imposition of monetary fines against them or the eventual closure of their establishments.
Carame expressed confidence the conduct of the contest among the different food establishments in the city will translate to their greater compliance to the existing rules and regulations governing the sanitation inside and outside their establishments that will entice more people to patronize their services.
Carame stated appropriate coordination will be done with the barangay officials once the program will be rolled out to ensure the active participation of the barangays to the said noble activity of the city. By Dexter A. See