Push Admin

San Juan to ban swimming, playing in flood waters to prevent leptospirosis

Article (news)

Arra Perez

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora announced Tuesday that the city will pass an ordinance prohibiting swimming and playing in flood waters.This comes after Health Secretary Ted Herbosa&#x27;s recommendation to local government units in flood-prone areas to ban swimming or playing in flood waters, as these may cause leptospirosis, which is usually derived from contaminated water or mud, like flood water. &quot;Kapag magkaroon tayo ng ganitong ordinansa, obligado ngayon ang ating mga magulang, mga lolo&#x27;t lola na ipaliwanag sa kani-kanilang mga anak, apo kung gaano kadelikado ang paglalangoy sa tubig baha,&quot; Zamora told ABS-CBN News. The local chief executive said fines do not need to be immediately imposed at the first offense—instead, a warning may initially be given. Law enforcers will also be careful in distinguishing between those who wade through the flood to save themselves and their belongings, and those who are just playing around, he said.&quot;Depende na iyon sa appreciation siyempre ng law enforcers natin. Obvious naman kung talagang tumatawid lamang sa tubig nga o iyong talagang lumalangoy. Kadalasan nakikita natin lumalangoy, naglalaro, nage-enjoy - iyon talaga obviously ay bawal iyon. Pero kung tumatawid tayo sa tubig baha para lamang makauwi sa ating mga tahanan, of course, hindi naman po iyon papagmultahin,&quot; he said.As president of the Metro Manila Council, Zamora encouraged mayors in the National Capital Region to implement a similar ordinance.&quot;Hinihikayat natin ang ating mga LGUs sa Metro Manila na magpasa ng kanilang mga ordinansa upang ipagbawal ito,&quot; he said.&quot;Ang mga Metro Manila mayors naman po, may kani-kanilang mga desisyon, na posibleng sumang-ayon sila, posibleng hindi. Ganoon pa man, magkaroon man ng resolusyon o hindi ang Metro Manila Council, ang lungsod ng San Juan po ay magpapasa ng ordinansa patungkol dito. Sapagkat kami po&#x27;y naniniwala na tungkulin ng ating pamahalaang lungsod na siguraduhin ang kaligtasan ng bawat isa,&quot; he added.The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also supports the DOH&#x27;s recommendation. &quot;We agree with DOH na ito ay isang health and safety concern na mas maganda kung pagbabawalan natin yung mga naliligo sa baha para makaiwas sa sakit,&quot; said MMDA Acting Chairperson Romando Artes. <div>&#x27;A NARROW SOLUTION&#x27;</div>The Quezon City LGU has doubts on outrightly banning swimming in flood waters. &quot;So kailangan may further study iyan on how to make the ordinance... Parang mahirap kang gumawa ng pag sinabi mo kasing ordinansa, may penalty po iyan. So kung nabaha na iyong tao, nasira na lahat ng gamit niya, ipe-penalty mo pa siya, pagbabayarin mo pa po siya, parang hindi naman siya makatao,&quot; QC-DRRMO spokesperson Peachy De Leon told reporters at the sidelines of a forum. De Leon said an it is better to regularly remind residents about the risk of illnesses when wading through flood waters.&quot;Kailangan lang sigurong magsimula sa mga barangays, na sasabihan iyong mga barangays na iyong mga communities ng barangay, na huwag na huwag lumusong or huwag maglaro ang mga bata... hindi siya swimming pool... It&#x27;s gonna be a reminder lang siguro, especially sa mga bata kasi parang ine-enjoy nila, for them it&#x27;s like a swimming pool,&quot; she said.&quot;Meron kaming case na lasing, tumalon, so parang iniisip din maggawa ng ordinansa na bawal uminom. So kasi pag bagyo biglaan ito eh, so paano mo mai-implement agad iyong ganoong klaseng ordinansa. So it&#x27;s more on awareness lang and continuous na awareness sa community,&quot; she added.For Marikina Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, banning swimming in flood waters is only a limited solution to a bigger problem.&quot;While we appreciate Secretary Herbosa’s concern about the risks of floodwaters, particularly leptospirosis, we believe that simply banning swimming and playing in floodwaters is a rather narrow solution to a much broader problem,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News in a text message.&quot;Instead of focusing solely on prohibitions, we should be investing in a robust health care system, especially in flood-prone areas. This includes ensuring that health facilities are properly equipped, that essential medications are available, and that effective treatment options for diseases like leptospirosis are accessible to all who need them,&quot; he added.Teodoro believes a &quot;one-size-fits-all approach is hardly effective&quot;. &quot;By providing targeted support to local government units, we can help them develop tailored health care strategies that address their specific needs. This isn’t just about reacting to immediate threats but about building long-term resilience,&quot; he said. &quot;While banning activities in floodwaters might seem like a quick fix, the real solution lies in empowering our communities with the resources and infrastructure they need to protect their health comprehensively,&quot; he added. <div>—With a report from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News</div>

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora announced Tuesday that the city will pass an ordinance prohibiting swimming and playing in flood waters.

San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora announced Tuesday that the city will pass an ordinance prohibiting swimming and playing in flood waters.