The Iloilo City Government will require food delivery riders to secure health cards as part of its strengthened food safety measures, according to the City Health Office (CHO).
Jennifer Christie Avenir, chief of the CHO’s Environmental Sanitation Division, said that they will soon coordinate with delivery agencies and rider offices in the city to inform them of the requirement.
“Ginapanawagan man namun ang tanan nga rider, palihog lang gid makuha gid kamo health cards,” she said.
Avenir explained that the health card requirement aims to ensure that food delivery riders are physically fit and do not carry illnesses that could affect the safety of the food they transport.
“Wala ta kabalo kung ina ang mga riders or any nga deliveries, they are physically fit, nga wala sila may gina dala na nga contamination within sa ila lawas,” she said, adding that cross-contamination remains among the factors that may affect food while it is being delivered.
The CHO is currently locating the offices of delivery agencies in the city so it can send formal notices requiring riders to comply with the health card requirement.
“The soonest ginapa-locate namun subong ang tanan nga mga opisina sang atun nga mga riders… mapadala kami note nga letter nga dapat ma-comply gid ang tanan sang health cards nila,” Avenir said.
The official also urged consumers who encounter contaminated food or physical hazards in their orders to directly report the matter to the CHO instead of only posting complaints on social media.
“Hindi na kita magsalig tani post, but deretso kamo sa City Health Office,” Avenir said. “Kung mag-post kita sa social media, hindi ina siya masabat. Hindi na ina siya masolbar.”
Avenir said the CHO conducts daily inspections and monitoring of food establishments, with reports covering no fewer than 100 establishments each day.
She also encouraged food establishments to allow customers to inspect their orders before food is packed for delivery and to have them sign a waiver confirming that the order was received after inspection.
As Iloilo City moves to tighten food safety standards, the CHO reminded delivery riders, food establishments, and consumers that keeping food safe does not end once an order leaves the kitchen.Meriel Faith Dumapit, WVSU-COC intern/IMT
