By CESAR JOLITO III

The Bacolod City Administrator’s Office mandated all departments and offices in the city government to secure prior approval before distributing donated food within the premises of the Bacolod City Government Center (BCGC) following reports of a “foreign object” allegedly found in a cup of arroz caldo on Friday, January 16.

Memorandum Order No. 7 aims to prevent potential health risks from donated food to employees, clients and visitors transacting at City Hall.

In an interview yesterday, City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo stressed that food donations must undergo proper coordination and sanitation checks, noting that unregulated distribution is not allowed.

He said Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus Puentevella has already been informed to relay the policy to the city council.

Mayo cited a previous instance when donated eggs intended for the victims of Typhoon “Tino” were inspected by the City Health Office (CHO) sanitation team, with some items found spoiled and subsequently discarded.

Earlier, Mayo confirmed that initial laboratory tests conducted on the reported object yielded negative results for total coliform and E. coli, indicating no immediate bacterial contamination.

The tests were initiated and facilitated by Councilor Wilson “Jun” Gamboa Jr., who donated arroz caldo during the ongoing Business One-Stop Shop operations at BCGC.

Gamboa’s office also submitted the specimen to the laboratory.

Despite the negative findings, Mayo said the city will still consult with CHO to determine whether a confirmatory test is warranted, emphasizing that public health and safety remain the local government’s priority.

Mayo further confirmed that photos circulating of a dark-colored specimen emitting an odor were the same images identified by the job order employee complainant.

However, he added that no reports have been received of anyone experiencing illness after consuming the donated arroz caldo.

The city government reiterated its commitment to enforcing food safety protocols to avoid similar incidents in the future and to maintain public trust in services provided at the BCGC.

Gamboa, for his part, suggested that the supposed foreign object may not have originated from the food itself.

He reasoned that if it had come from the pot where the arroz caldo was cooked, it would have dissolved or deteriorated due to prolonged boiling.

He added that it was possible the object accidentally fell into the cup while it was being carried by a job order worker./CJ, WDJ