The Manila City government has laid out a multi-point action plan in response to a University of the Philippines Manila study that found drug-resistant bacteria in all 12 sampled palamig stalls in Tondo, Manila.
Manila City Health Officer Dr. Grace Padilla, who outlined the plan on DZRH News program “Special on Saturday” on May 2, said the Manila Health Department (MHD) is treating the findings as a high-priority public health concern requiring immediate action.
The department’s first move is to return to the 12 sites included in the study for re-inspection. “Pupuntahan po namin uli ang 12 sites na nasama sa study, and we will be conducting again the inspection of this samalamig stall,” Padilla said.
The city health officer added that Tondo has been identified as one of Manila’s high-risk areas, and that the department’s sanitary inspectors covering all six districts of Manila will be deployed as part of the enforcement effort.
On water and ice safety—identified by UP Manila researchers as the highest-risk contamination sources—Padilla said the department will require vendors to use certified potable water and ice from approved suppliers only.
“(We will) require vendors to use certified potable water and approved ice supplier, hindi lang ‘yung basta-basta,” she said, adding that proof of certification will be mandatory during inspections.
Padilla also announced a mandatory vendor hygiene training program to be developed in coordination with UP Manila, covering handwashing, safe food handling, and proper cleaning of containers. Vendors who complete the course will be issued certificates.
“May certification kaming ibibigay sa kanila para ma-uplift naman or ma-motivate sila na gawin ‘yung mga tamang hygiene procedure,” she said.
In a move aimed at removing financial barriers to compliance, Padilla said the department plans to offer free water potability testing for vendors—with city health personnel conducting the sampling on-site rather than requiring vendors to travel to the public health laboratory.
“Kami na lang po magsa-sampling sa kanila, and free of charge,” she said. She noted that Manila operates its own Water Analysis Laboratory which will process the samples.
The department also plans to strengthen its licensing system for food vendors, requiring submission of water potability re-certification on top of existing sanitary permits.
Padilla said the MHD intends to make the certification process as accessible as possible for small vendors, and is seeking approval from the mayor to waive associated fees.
Routine microbiological monitoring is also part of the plan—with the department intending to regularly test beverages, water, and surfaces at vending sites, focusing not only on bacterial presence but also on antimicrobial resistance.
“We need to partner with the universities or we have our own public health lab to regularly test the beverages, water, and surfaces, and focus not just on the bacteria presence, but also dun sa antimicrobial resistance na nangyayari,” Padilla said.
Rounding out the action plan are infrastructure support measures—including the establishment of clean water stations and the provision of standard hygiene kits for small vendors in high-risk areas—and a public awareness campaign encouraging consumers to report unsanitary practices observed at nearby stalls.
UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael Tee, who presented the study findings alongside lead researcher Associate Professor Geraldine Dayrit on the same broadcast, welcomed the Manila City government’s response as a model for how academic research can translate directly into government action. “Isa sa pinakamagandang partner talaga namin ang City of Manila,” he said.
