After an outbreak of diarrhea there since March, provincial health officials in Palawan have passed local ordinances to prevent a repeat of the incident. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said the rural health units and the provincial health office imposed five ordinances:
Prohibition of drinking water taken directly from the river and spring; Prohibition of defecating anywhere other than toilet facilities; Regular disinfection of the water source; Continuous monitoring of cases; and Continuous information, education and communication on personal hygiene and environmental sanitation. "The Bataraza community is complying with the local ordinances and is practicing personal hygiene and proper environmental sanitation. They are also using aquatabs with their drinking water," the NDRRMC said in its Wednesday update. Also, the NDRRMC said water chlorination was instructed and demonstrated to the indigenous people. It added the boiling of water prior to drinking was also advised. The NDRRMC said at least 563 diarrhea cases were recorded in Bataraza from March 1 until the third week of April. At least 20 died in Culandanum village, with the fatalities' ages ranging from 1 to 50. Local health authorities have since coordinated with the military to use water purifiers and construct water systems. The Department of Health team that went to the area left Tuesday, with a team from the Provincial Health Office taking over. The local health department provided some P377,604 in assorted medicines and supplies, including water containers and chlorine tabs and granules. – VVP, GMA News 
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