Sibalom: Around 136 learners from two schools in Sibalom municipality in Antique were rushed to hospitals due to dizziness and vomiting after the inhalation of an alleged toxic chemical on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Antique Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) Information Officer Irene Duldoco stated in an interview that 107 learners were taken to the Ramon Maza Sr. District Hospital (RMSDH) in Sibalom, while 29 were sent to Angel Salazar Memorial General Hospital in San Jose de Buenavista. The affected learners were from Pis-Anan National High School (PNHS) and Pis-Anan Elementary School (PES). Duldoco mentioned that the learners were hospitalized to receive necessary treatment.
IPHO Chief Dr. Ric Noel Naciongayo has initiated coordination with the Department of Health-Center for Health Development 6 (DOH-CHD6) to bring in a toxicologist to identify the chemical that caused the symptoms among the learners. In the meantime, Antique Representative Antonio Agapito Legarda, who visited the RMSDH, assured parents of financial assistance for the treatment of the learners from his office and the provincial government.
Governor Paolo Everardo Javier confirmed that there are sufficient medical personnel attending to the learners, with additional support from nearby municipalities. PNHS teacher Mark Del Rosario reported that learners began complaining of a foul odor during their first class period at around 7 a.m., which led to some collapsing and prompted a call for help from the Sibalom Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Sibalom Mayor Gian Carlo Occe±a and other local officials canceled the inaugural session of the municipal council to address the emergency. Classes at PNHS and PES were also canceled on Wednesday. In a message to reporters, the DOH in Manila confirmed ongoing coordination with Western Visayas CDH to properly assess the situation, stating that more information will be shared once the health and safety of those affected are ensured. Environmental testing is in progress to determine the source of the odor.
