QuestionsQuestions (DOH)
They apply to all camps and picnic grounds intended for public or commercial use, including cottages and recreational facilities located therein, whether operated by individuals, organizations, corporations, partnerships, government agencies/instrumentalities, or institutions.
A “camp” is a ground/spot where tents, caravans/mobile homes, cottages, or other shelters with sanitary and recreational facilities are temporarily or permanently constructed/located and commonly arranged for vacation/outing. A “picnic facility” is a space/structure with tables and seats for picnic gatherings. A “picnic ground” is a place with amenities such as picnic facilities, sanitary facilities, restaurants/sundry shops, and recreational facilities.
Before it could operate for public use, the establishment must secure a sanitary permit issued by the local health officer.
Yes. Any extension or additional construction or alteration requires a new sanitary permit before the establishment may operate.
It is filed with the local health office having jurisdiction over the establishment using EHS Form No. 110.
It is valid from the date of issuance until the last day of December of the same year and must be renewed every beginning of the year thereafter.
Upon recommendation of the local health officer, the local health authority may suspend or revoke for violation of sanitary rules. For revocation after non-compliance, the Rules require notices and hearings: first sanitary order, possibly second order/extension with a show-cause notice (hearing), then re-inspection and recommendation for revocation. There is also summary suspension for substantial hazards with a hearing within 48 hours.
Any person who intends to operate or work in the establishment must secure a health certificate (EHS Form No. 102-A or 102-B) from the local health officer. It must be renewed at least once a year (or as required by local ordinance). It must be clipped visibly on the upper left front portion of the uniform, or made available during inspection if not practical.
Employees must observe good personal hygiene (e.g., wear clean working garments; wash hands with soap and water before/after work, after smoking, after toilet use, and after coughing/sneezing). They must also follow safety practices (e.g., no smoking, no drinking alcoholic beverages, no spitting/blowing nose, no littering) and report communicable/contagious diseases immediately to the operator.
They must be located only in zones designated under zoning laws/ordinances; if none, approval is required by the local health authority upon recommendation of the local health officer. They must be at least 300 meters radial distance away from densely populated areas. They must not be located within earthquake fault lines, landslide/flood-prone areas, lahar-paths, volcanic activity areas, or other external hazard sources.
There must be a buffer zone of at least 5 meters on all boundaries planted with trees spaced at least 1.5 meters apart. Property lines must be at least 3 meters from any road alignment.
Service buildings housing toilet facilities must be within 25 meters of the service area. Adequate plumbing fixtures must be provided based on Tables 5 and 6. Separate clearly-marked toilet facilities for male and female must be provided.
Drinking water must comply with the Code on Sanitation and Philippine National Standards for Drinking Water. Drinking water sources must have a certificate of potability issued by DOH or duly authorized representative. Samples must be submitted annually for physical/chemical tests and every six months for bacteriological tests (or more often as determined by sanitary engineer/inspector).
Segregation, storage, collection, transport, and disposal must follow the Code’s refuse disposal provisions. The establishment must run an information/awareness program including trash bag color coding, provide strategically located firmly secured containers, empty them daily or more frequently as needed, clean/disinfect after emptying (with wastewater disposed properly), and provide separate storage for dry and wet refuse that is inaccessible to vermin. Littering must be strictly enforced with posted signboards.
The operator must maintain a vermin abatement program consistent with the Code’s vermin control chapter. Enclosed shelters/cabins/cottages used for habitation must be screened with a No. 15-mesh screen unless air-conditioned. The growth of bush/weed/grass must be controlled, awareness programs for dangerous/poisonous insects/animals must be conducted, and stray animals must not loiter inside.
The establishment must provide emergency medicines/supplies/equipment appropriate to worker count, emergency communication and posted ambulance/hospital info, safe lighting/exits/maintenance, barriers where fall hazards exist, and comply with the Fire Code. Annex I requires an information/awareness program, regular fire hazard inspection at least monthly (especially during dry season), restriction to prepared areas with designated fireplaces/cooking/roasting places, adequate clearings and safe distances around fire areas, safe storage of flammables, extinguishing open fires upon leaving, and prohibition of fireworks/explosives.
Caravan/mobile home camps must have a land area of at least 1 hectare, with trailer emplacements within the camp and density limits (e.g., 30–60 emplacements per hectare; 120–200 persons per hectare). Tent camps prohibit erection of tents within a caravan/mobile home camp; tents require clearance distances between tents, buildings, and public gathering areas, and must provide sanitary hand-type pump outlets within 25 meters at a ratio of 1 outlet per 10 tent emplacements.