CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro -- Sixty (60) units of DOST-developed Ceramic Water Filter (CWF) were distributed to Mansalay Municipal Health Office in Oriental Mindoro to help mitigate the increase of dehydration cases and water-borne illness within the municipality.

Proliferation of such alarming situations were identified in several barangays in Mansalay due to prolonged rains brought about by erratic weather conditions. Residents in these areas who depend mostly on deep wells for drinking water, became highly exposed to illnesses due to increased level of bacteria and contaminants in water wells during heavy rains. To have a safe drinking water, some residents need to travel for 10-30 minutes to water refilling stations in neighboring barangays.

According to Mansalay Municipal Health Office (MHO-Mansalay), a total of 211 cases of dehydration were reported, of which three (3) are classified under severe category which caused deaths in Brgys. Manaul, Bonbon, and Waygan in Mansalay.

To address this, DOST-MIMAROPA through its Provincial S&T Office in Oriental Mindoro responded to the request of MHO-Mansalay and turned over units of CWF last January 27, 2023. The CWF is a technology developed by DOST- Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) that is used to take out microbial/particulate contaminants in drinking water for use in household level.

The MHO plans to provide 1 unit of CWF to every household in the affected barangays with prevalent cases of dehydration to gradually reduce water-borne disease incidence.

During the turnover of the CWFs, PSTD Jesse M. Pine of PSTO-Oriental Mindoro briefly discussed the details on how to use the technology and the basic maintenance procedures. Deployed CWFs were received by Engr. Alexis Diama, Municipal Administrator together with MHO-Mansalay represented by Ms. Marichi Raboy, Nurse II-MESO, and Ms. Katherine Anthony MSTC-Mansalay. (DOST-MIMAROPA)