School execs told to observe food safety rules

MANILA, Philippines - Amid several reports of food poisoning, the Department of Education (DepEd) has reminded school officials to strictly follow “food safety policies in schools, including dealing with ambulant vendors, to ensure that children are free from health risks.”

The DepEd has also instructed regional directors and schools division superintendents to oversee the management of school canteens and reminded them of the accountability of school officials.

“As schools continue to promote food safety, DepEd enjoins parents and guardians to take a proactive role in helping children make proper food choices and practice proper sanitation,” DepEd said in a statement.

“DepEd also calls on stakeholders and local government units to promote proper nutrition and food safety practices to protect children and strengthen communities,” it added.

DepEd issued the statement after more than a thousand students in Caraga region were hospitalized due to food poisoning allegedly caused by consumption of durian candy.

Last week, 10 students were hospitalized in Quezon City after eating candies sold inside the school.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista ordered the city health department to come up with a program that will ensure that only properly prepared food are served to students in school canteens.

“We must always think of the safety of school children by preventing any improper food handling and preparations,” Bautista said.

Bautista reminded teachers to be careful of the food source, nutrient level, health benefits and the production and expiration dates of consumables being offered to school children, especially if these are prepared outside the schools.

Luistro: No stopping K to 12

Meanwhile, Education Secretary Armin Luistro maintained that the implementation of the K to 12 program that would add two years to basic education in the country would push through next year despite opposition from various sectors.

“As I have said before, DepEd welcomes suggestions to improve the implementation of the last phase of Republic Act 105339,” Luistro said, referring to the Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013.

“It is too late in the day to call for its suspension. It is not a perfect reform program, but we can make it work if we all work together towards one goal,” he added.

Several petitions against the K to 12 program have been filed before the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule on the request for it to order the suspension of the program.

Yesterday, Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan led the submission to the DepEd main office in Pasig City of an anti-K to 12 petition containing 12,000 signatures.

The signature campaign was led by the Parent’s Movement Against K-12, one of the many organizations that were established in recent years to mobilize those who are against the additional two years in basic education.

“We believe that the program is an unnecessary added burden for families, especially those who cannot afford additional two years of senior high school,” the group said in its letter to Luistro.

“Foremost in our demands is that current Grade 10 students be graduated from high school and thus be eligible to take university and college exams for (academic year) 2016-2017,” it added.

Ilagan urged DepEd to reconsider its decision to implement the program, saying the problem is not on the number of years of basic education in the country but the quality of education being provided to Filipino students.