ILOILO — Fearing a possible spike in waterborne illnesses after typhoons “Tino” and “Uwan” may have contaminated community water sources, the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (PHO) has launched an urgent, province-led intervention to disinfect and chlorinate wells and communal systems in hard-hit coastal barangays, starting with Barangay Bucaya in San Joaquin.
The operation, conducted on November 11, 2025, mobilized PHO sanitation teams and San Joaquin Rural Sanitary Inspectors (RSIs) amid reports of damaged wells, flooded pump systems, and residents relying on potentially unsafe drinking water.
The PHO said the rapid deployment was crucial to prevent outbreaks of diarrhea, cholera, and other waterborne diseases, which tend to rise sharply after major flooding.
The effort targeted both Level I (deep wells shared by a few households) and Level II (piped communal systems) water sources — many of which were inundated during the back-to-back typhoons.
Ensuring water safety, the PHO noted, has become a priority as “extensive damage to various infrastructures” has left several communities vulnerable.
According to the PHO, the initiative involved two RSIs from San Joaquin and three Provincial Sanitation Inspectors, working closely with barangay officials, including the Barangay Kagawad on Health and barangay tanods.
The coordinated ground operation highlighted the strong local response following the devastation.
Health teams used chlorine and other disinfectants to treat wells and piped systems, taking water samples before and after the process to ensure potability.
Residents were reminded to boil water before drinking as an added precaution while the province continues assessment and disinfection work in other affected areas.
The PHO said the initiative forms part of #MoRProGResIloilo — the provincial government’s push for strengthened disaster readiness, public health resilience, and community cooperation in the face of worsening climate-related disasters.
Community members gathered as the disinfection was carried out, with local leaders urging vigilance, sanitation awareness, and preparedness for future typhoons.
With monitoring to continue in the coming weeks, the PHO said its goal is not only immediate disease prevention but also building long-term community practices that ensure safe water handling.
Through concerted efforts, the IPHO and its partners aim to reinforce the bonds of community support and resilience as Iloilo navigates the challenges brought by increasingly severe climate events./PN
