Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Department of Education (Dep Ed) Schools Division Superintendent Marilou Dedumo of Surigao del Sur said on Saturday (July 11) that provincial education officials were ready to help parents and victims of candy poisoning in filing cases.
This developed after some 1,250 persons — mostly high school and elementary public schools students — were hospitalized on Friday (July 10) in the province after consuming candies.
For her part, Tandag City Schools Division Superintendent Dr. Gregoria Su told CNN Philippines that the local DepEd office was also ready to help parents and victims in filing complaints.
Su said a male high school teacher in Jacinto Elpa National High School also fell ill after eating durian candy, a pasalubong from Davao City but not Wendy’s Durian Candy.
“It is different since it was a pasalubong from Davao City not the one sold by ambulant vendors” Su said.
DepEd officials in the province and Tandag City also said that they will be holding meetings within the day and on Monday (July 13) to discuss over-all updates and situation including possible revisit of DepEd policy on ambulant food vendors coming in and out public school premises
Dedumo added that local education officials were considering a total ban on ambulant food vendors within school area.
Most of the victims were elementary and high schools in Tandag City and six towns in other parts of Surigao del Sur province.
Meanwhile, Surigao del Sur Gov. Johnny Pimentel said that majority — if not almost all — of those who were brought for treatment in hospitals and clinics already returned home.
The Department of Health (DOH) Caraga regional office already issued a public warning about an alleged mobile van — a Mitsubishit L-300 — roaming around the region and selling and distributing durian candies, others flavored mangosteen.
