ILOILO CITY — The local government here on Friday declared a state of calamity due to the outbreak of food and waterborne diseases following the passage of a resolution crafted by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in a special session.

The SP also approved the utilization of the P12.5 million quick response fund for the three-month operation of the city government in addressing the health concern.

According to City Health Office officer-in-charge Dr. Annabelle Tang, they will be using the fund to buy medicines for suspect and confirmed cases of cholera and manifesting acute gastroenteritis medical supplies, payment for bulk water supply, and fuel expenditures.

"We have supplies, however, it's not enough because we have not foreseen this event," said Tang, adding that as of Thursday, the city has 284 AGE cases in 77 barangays, which also includes eight confirmed cholera cases as per result of the rectal swab sent to the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine.

Tang said it only takes one case of cholera to declare an outbreak and stressed that the contaminated water source and damaged pipelines as reasons for the cases.

She added that the Metro Pacific Iloilo Water — one of the water distributors in the city — has been helping disinfect deep wells as part of its well disinfection program, where 10 wells were chlorinated in Barangay Jalandoni, four in Barangay Legaspi while the procedure is ongoing in Barangay Sinikway.

"The bulk water delivery is ongoing that will be free for one month. Our affected barangays have static tanks," Tang said.

The CHO tested 12 water refilling stations and seven were found positive for coliform while one was positive for both e.coli and coliform bacteria.

The city government has closed six water refilling stations on Thursday while three more will be closed Friday.