Loboc Mayor Helen Calipusan- Alaba downplayed Friday the alleged food poisoning in one of the municipality’s famous floating restaurants in a desperate bid to protect the good image of the tourism town. Clearly mounting damage control measures , Mayor Alaba was frantic as soon as she learned about the reported mass food poisoning involving 107 local tourists. More than 100 local tourists complained of stomach disorder on Wednesday after eating what they believed as “spoiled shrimps” which were served to them by a floating restaurant at the Loboc River during a mid-day tour. All the 107 victims of the food poisoning, most of whom are students of Bohol Island State University (BISU-Main Campus, were rushed to the Ramiro Hospital after they experienced vomiting, headache, and stomachaches four hours after they consumed what they thought as “fresh shrimps.” But according to sources, the shrimps had been spoiled after the management of Monarch Floating Restaurant operating at the lucrative river-cruising tours at the world-famous Loboc River failed to put ice on the shrimps during last Saturday’s provincewide brownout.

Sources said the cooked shrimps were just heated up to keep them fresh-looking, and the floating resto allegedly served these to the tourists. The students and teachers of BISU did not complain of any discomfort after eating at the floating resto. In fact they still managed to proceed to the Chocolate Hills Complex in Carmen town. From the interior towns, the students and teachers went to Panglao Island to complete their tour itinerary. But shortly before evening fell on the white sand beaches of Panglao, all of the students and teachers of BISU suddenly felt ill. They were all rushed to the city since there is no hospital in Panglao Island where the victims can be treated for their sickness. Reporters trooped to Ramiro Hospital to verify the report that was finally broadcast in national television Friday evening.

NEWS BLACKOUT?

An attempt of cover-up of the food poisoning had succeeded until Friday when Board Member Dionisio Balite brought up the issue during the regular session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP). Balite’s speech was videotaped by socialite Leo Udtohan and fed the video material to GMA 7 News and it was later picked up by ABS-CBN. Before the twin TV channels news broadcast on alleged food poisoning at one of Bohol’s tourism jewel, radio station DYTR accused the Provincial Government of Bohol and other media outlets of cover-up as an effort to protect the tourism-image of the province. The belief of cover-up was further boosted when Gov. Edgar M. Chatto did not mention the incident during his regular radio program, “Kita ug ang Gobernador,” aired over all radio stations in the province.

RUMOR AS NEWS SOURCE?

Reports of the alleged food poisoning were first discussed at Friday’s session of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) courtesy of First District Board Member Dionisio Balite who bore the bad news for Bohol tourism. From Balite, the news on food poisoning reached GMA 7 and ABS-CBN which both reported the story during their prime time news. Meanwhile, paid hacks at station DYTR started harping the unconfirmed report during their block-time programs, hurling accusations at Capitol that it ordered a news blackout of the incident to protect the tourism image of Bohol. But according to a Capitol press statement, the Provincial Government did not relay the story to the media until it has gathered all the factual details, otherwise “we might be sending a wrong signal to our visitors.” “We tell the public what is truth and we want everyone to know what is going on in Bohol,” the statement said, “but we have to confirm and verify first a report otherwise we become bearers of false news.” On the other hand, a tourism executive said that the incident would somehow serve as a wake-up call to the food industry in Bohol, saying that there is a need to review hygiene and safety standards whether these are faithfully followed by restaurants and resorts in the province. “Whatever are the lapses of Monarch Floating Restaurant in food handling does not reflect the quality of food being served by other floating restaurants in Loboc,” the executive who requested anonymity told the Post.