Muntinlupa to inspect school canteens

Canteens in all elementary and high schools in Muntinlupa City will be inspected to ensure that food sold to students are safe and clean, an official said yesterday.

This was the order of Dr. Fe Faz, schools division superintendent in Muntinlupa, to all school principals in the city in the midst of several food poisoning incidents in Metro Manila schools.

Faz said all schools must comply with Department of Education Order 52, which instructs all regional directors and schools division superintendents in the country to “oversee the effective management of school canteens” in order to make safe, nutritious food available.

Education Undersecretary Ramon Bacani said there should be a written agreement between a concessionaire and the school head if there are food products supplied on a consignment basis to school canteens.

He said the school head should see to it that the food supplier has business and sanitary permits, and that the food handlers have health certificates.

Mayor Aldrin San Pedro said only nutritious food should be made available in the canteens of public schools, where the incidence of malnutrition is high.  – Rhodina Villanueva