CH to remove water, coffee machines outside establishments

CEBU, Philippines - For violating the Sanitation Code of the Philippines, coin-operated water and coffee dispensing machines installed outside establishments and residences in Cebu city will be removed starting today.

Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (GASA) decided to confiscate the said machines after thorough investigation.

“We would like to inform the public that these vending machines will be removed starting July 18. Supposedly this was to be implemented last July 15 but we moved it,” GASA chairperson Dr. Lucelle Mercado yesterday told reporters.

Coin-operated Automated Tubig Machines (ATM) and coffee dispensing vending machines will be confiscated by officers of the Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE), the implementing office.

Mercado clarified the action is not to kill these businesses but rather to correct the unsanitary practice.

“Let’s make it clear that we are not destroying these types of business. We just want it to be done the right way. We are protecting the public welfare,” Mercado added.

City authorities said water and coffee dispensing vending machines should be placed inside a building to protect it from contamination.

City health chief Dr. Stella Ygoña stressed that placing these machines outside increases health risks.

“It is very prone to contamination. Posible kaayo nga binuangan ni unya butangan og hugaw then people may contact infection and get sick,” Ygoña said.

She then cited a case in barangay Pahina Central where residents got sick and when they investigated on the cause, they found seven out of 14 ATMs tested to be positive of diarrhea causing E-coli bacteria.

“Gihingusgan gyud nato ang confiscation especially for public health reasons. We do not want that to happen again,” Ygoña said. — (FREEMAN)