ENVIRONMENTAL Health Officer John M. Tagabuel says the lack of manpower is preventing a regular inspection of public and private schools to ensure their sanitary and health standards compliance.
As required by regulations, he said, the Division of Environmental Quality and the Bureau of Environmental Health should conduct the inspection twice a year.
But because of limited personnel, Tagabuel said they cannot conduct two inspections in a year.
BEH and DEQ conduct their inspections before the opening of the new school year, he added.
For this year, he said most of the schools inspected were in compliance with sanitary and health standards.
“If there’s imminent danger then we intervene right away,” he added.
The BEH-DEQ team also conducts follow-up inspection to ensure that the school rectify any minor discrepancies.
The usual violations include filthy water, an unsanitary cafeteria and accumulation of debris on campus, Tagabuel said.
If there is coliform in the water, the school is advised to clean the reservoir and improve its water system, he added.
“Before the opening of classes, schools look at their water and how the food is stored,” he said. “Their food servers are also required to attend food safety training.”
BEH is the enforcement arm of the Department of Public Health and issues sanitary permits.
