News update Public warned on vending machines

CEBU CITY - An official from the Region 7 office of the Department of Health (DoH) 7 has warned the public against drinking water from street vending machines, saying that the equipment is not regulated while its exposure may cause contamination.

Evangeline Canoneo, DoH 7 environmental health coordinator, said that the water vending machines found in major routes here are not regulated thus making it not safe.

''It's not safe as we are exposing water to different contaminants, such as dust, smog and other harmful air particles,'' she said.

The DoH7 official also lamented the drastic increase of such water vending machines, especially with the onset of the rainy season when cases of water-borne diseases are expected to increase.

Canoneo also admitted that most mineral water refilling stations in Central Visayas have not complied with the revised 2007 Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water (PNSDW).

She also added that while the DoH has the power to issue permits to water refilling stations, it is the city or municipal health offices who are responsible for enforcing strict regulations against the said establishments.

Canoneo disclosed that based on the revised PNSDW, all water refilling stations must post the results of their monthly bacteriological and physicochemical examinations conducted by the local health offices to show their customers how clean and potable their water is.

''To prevent possible contamination, clients of water refilling stations should look for the result of the bacteriological and physicochemical examinations to check whether the said establishment is regularly having the said tests,'' said Canoneo.

Canoneo urged local health officials to strictly monitor water refilling stations as a preventive measure against possible water related diseases.