DOH to ensure healthy environment for APEC delegates
CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health-7 will look into the “environmental sanitation” of restaurants, KTV bars and taxi units operating in Metro Cebu to ensure that Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation delegates would not be exposed to any contagious diseases.
Dr. Expedito Medalla, program coordinator of health emergency and management staff, said they already anticipated that some of the participants will indulge themselves in leisure like going to karaoke entertainment establishments and restaurants among others after the APEC meetings.
“Public areas like these will be checked. We cannot afford of allowing our foreign guests to be infected with diseases while here,” he said.
He said taxis, a vital mode of transportation, are also not exempted from this sanitary inspection.
“Ato gyod na siguraduhon nga limpyo or sanitized ang mga establishments ilang adtoan (ug) ang ilang sakyan,” he said.
He said that outsourced medical personnel from government and private hospitals are ready for the international ministerial meetings slated from August 22 until the second week of September.
He said they will deploy medical teams, ambulances, and other rescue vehicles at the APEC venues and other strategic areas in Cebu.
The venues will include Radisson Blu Hotel and Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.
Medalla assured that medical responders including paramedics, emergency medical technicians, first responders and other professionals working in hospitals are well-trained professionals.
According to APEC website, Cebu will host the third Senior Officials’ meeting and related gatherings between August 24 to September 8 and the Finance and Structural Reforms ministerial meetings from September 9 to 13.
In October, Cebu will also host the Transportation and Energy ministerial meetings. More than 3,000 international delegates are expected to be coming in and out of Cebu for the duration of the meetings. — (FREEMAN)
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