MANILA, Philippines (Eagle News) — Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked the health officers of various local government units to tighten their monitoring of public markets in different areas to stop the sale of illegal food substances.
This came about after the milk tea poisoning incident in Sampaloc, Manila that killed two individuals, including the shop owner.
In a meeting, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino ordered the 17 city health officers of Metro Manila to check and monitor the food products in different establishments under their jurisdiction. They were instructed to check if these food substances had been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Tolentino said that this is important this summer vacation because children are more prone to food poisoning. This is also the time when children and other students on vacation spend most of their time outside their house.
According to the agency chair, this is the first time that the MMDA conducted a meeting with the Department of Health-National Capital Region (DOH-NCR), Association of Health Officers of Metro Manila and the representatives of LGU’s health offices. (Eagle News Service, MRF Bonalos)