The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council wants vendors of street foods monitored and accredited, warning students and parents in particular of potential health risks posed by items such as 'kwek-kwek' and fishballs, which are ubiquitous around schools.

NDRRMC chief Benito Ramos told News5 that the agency is concerned about diseases that health experts have blamed on unclean street foods. These diseases include diarrhea, hepatitis and cholera.

For their price and convenience, street foods such as fishballs and kwek-kwek - whole eggs, balut, chicks, or chicken parts deep fried in an orange-colored batter - are popular and ubiquitous around schools of all levels.

The Department of Health (DOH) says certain bacteria cannot be killed off even by deep frying.

Ramos therefore wants tighter enforcement by local authorities of accreditation processes for ambulant vendors. Without accreditation, he said, it would be difficult to isolate vendors and food items in case of food poisoning.

The NDRRMC said it is cooperating with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in monitoring the sale of street foods, particularly near and around schools.*InterAksyon.com