DOH advises public against relying solely on water filters

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has advised the public against relying entirely on water filtration devices to ensure safe drinking water as the country prepares for the effects of the impending super El Niño.

The DOH recommended pretreating raw water containing debris, organic matter and suspended solids to prevent filtration systems from getting clogged and ensure their effectiveness.

“Pretreatment can be undertaken if the raw water is highly contaminated and has debris, organic matter and suspended solids to prevent the filters from getting clogged,” Health Assistant Secretary Tagumpay Maniquis said.

He explained that a filter’s ability to remove contaminants depends on its size, noting that filters with a 0.1-micron capacity cannot remove contaminants smaller than that measurement.

“To deactivate viruses or bacteria less than 0.1 micron, you can boil the water or use a disinfectant. What is commonly used for disinfection is a chlorine tablet,” Maniquis said.

The DOH advised the public to coordinate with their local health offices on the proper use of chlorine tablets.

For those using water filtration systems to improve drinking water quality, the agency also reminded the public to check whether their devices are registered with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

“It should have undergone registration and been issued a certificate of health-related device registration,” Maniquis said.

The registration status of water filters and other treatment devices can be verified through the FDA’s online portal at https://verification.fda.gov.ph.

School gardens

In the education sector, Education Secretary Sonny Angara has directed schools to strengthen the planting of drought-tolerant and short-cycle crops to ensure the uninterrupted implementation of the government’s feeding program despite the threat of El Niño.

“We must be prepared and resourceful in the face of the challenges brought by El Niño. Under the administration of President Marcos, it is our priority to ensure that nutritional support for our students remains uninterrupted,” Angara said.

He stressed that protecting school gardens is essential to the government’s efforts to strengthen food security, mitigate hunger and promote child welfare.

Angara directed schools to adjust their crop selection and soil management systems to address prolonged dry spells, extreme heat and water shortages that could disrupt conventional planting cycles.

He recommended fast-growing, drought-resistant and nutrient-rich crops such as munggo, okra, malunggay, saluyot, alugbati and kamote.

Schools were also instructed to adopt water-saving measures, including organic mulching, rainwater harvesting, alternate-day watering schedules and drip irrigation.

For urban and space-constrained schools, the Department of Education will issue standardized guidelines for non-soil and vertical farming systems, including container gardening, hydroponics and stacked planting.

“This is more than just planting vegetables; we are teaching our youth about resilience and cooperation, while ensuring that there is sufficient, nutritious food on every table in our schools,” Angara said.

“With the help of our teachers, parents and local governments, we are strengthening our gardens to serve as a guide and a source of support during times of drought. Together, we are fostering the future of our youth,” he added.

Price control

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Pangilinan has called on the government to strictly enforce price freezes and jail major hoarders who may exploit the impending El Niño crisis, warning of its potential impact on food production and consumer prices.

Pangilinan, chairman of the Senate committee on agriculture, food and agrarian reform, said government crackdowns should target the masterminds behind agricultural cartels rather than low-level market retailers. — Neil Jayson Servallos, Bella Cariaso