Bacolod Councilor Defends Longstanding Feeding Initiative After Food Donation Incident
BACOLOD. Bacolod City Councilor Wilson Gamboa Jr. has issued a clarification regarding a recent incident involving donated food, emphasizing that the preparation and distribution of arroz caldo under his supervision is an integral component of the feeding program he has consistently implemented for over a quarter of a century.
Incident Details and Immediate Response
The situation unfolded on January 16, 2026, when Councilor Gamboa's office donated arroz caldo at the Bacolod City Government Center during the ongoing Business One-Stop Shop event. A staff member from the Business Permits and Licensing Office discovered a foreign object in one of the cups served to clients.
Councilor Gamboa responded swiftly, coordinating with the City Health Office to ensure proper investigation. The foreign object was sent to the Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative-Analytical and Diagnostic Laboratory for examination.
Laboratory Findings and Program Background
According to laboratory test results released on January 19, 2026, the foreign object was classified as "unknown" in nature. Importantly, tests for Total Coliform and E. Coli returned negative results, indicating no bacterial contamination.
Councilor Gamboa emphasized that this feeding program predates his involvement in local partisan politics, having served the community for 25 years. "This program is both an advocacy, a personal commitment to public health, public service and nutrition, where I could personally interact with the people," he stated.
Scope and Safety Measures of the Feeding Program
The councilor provided significant context about the program's scale and safety protocols:
- The vegetable-fortified arroz caldo has been voluntarily offered during numerous public activities, fiestas, and situations requiring extended waiting periods
- Over 25 years, the program has served more than one million cups to residents across all 61 barangays of Bacolod City
- This marks the first complaint received throughout the program's extensive history
Councilor Gamboa explained that the cooking process itself provides additional safety assurance: "If such a material had originated from the preparation stage and serving of the arroz caldo, the constant stirring done during the cooking process and the serving would have caused it to dissolve or disperse within the liquid content of the dish in a big-sized cauldron."
Official Statements and Ongoing Investigation
City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo confirmed that approximately 300 cups were distributed during the January 16 event. The foreign object was noticed when a staff member scooped food from the cup using a fork.
Mayo announced new regulations: "The City Government will now regulate the acceptance and distribution of donated food within the BCGC." He also advised clients who processed business permits that day to seek medical consultation if they experience stomach discomfort.
Medical professionals involved in the initial inspection provided crucial observations. Dr. Edwin Miraflor, medical officer of the Bacolod City Health Office, examined the object and noted it was "one tiny bit of foreign object with no foul smell."
Councilor Gamboa concurred with city officials about transparency: "I agreed with City Administrator Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, Secretary to the Mayor Atty. Marty Go and City Health Medical Officer Dr. Grace Tan, that as a health protocol, the public should be fully informed."
The investigation continues as the City Health Office works to determine the exact nature and origin of the foreign object. Mayo emphasized that the advisory's primary purpose is to ensure complete transparency with the public regarding food safety matters.
