Sanitation over aesthetics should prevail in restaurants.
The Baguio City Health Services Office (HSO) ordered the closure of Jungle Town Seafood Buffet Restaurant along Upper Session Road after confirming that a rat had been mixed into soup during food preparation.
Engr. Albert Pay-an, CHSO Environmental Health and Sanitation Head, said, “May problema talaga. Makikita natin ‘yung establishment talagang open, considering ‘yung setup and ambiance niya, pero na-sacrifice naman ‘yung pagpasok ng pest. Kasalukuyan silang nag-aayos ng kanilang establishment, civil works, cleaning, clearing. Kailangan nilang gawin bago sila mag-operate, at kailangan muna dumaan sa opisina at dapat mabigyan sila ng Certificate of Compliance.”
The HSO reported that the restaurant’s open-air setup directly compromised its sanitation safety by sacrificing pest exclusion for aesthetic ambiance.
Pay-an said a comprehensive review of the establishment’s internal CCTV footage ruled out external sabotage or a customer-led scam, pointing instead to critical structural layout flaws.
The local government unit clarified that the business will remain shut (since June 12) until it complies with strict structural corrections, a deep disinfection protocol, and a verified pest eradication program.
Beyond restaurant kitchens, the city is also aggressively addressing a surge in pest infestations and foul odors along Session Road and the public market, which officials blame on the undisciplined disposal of solid waste and used cooking oil into city drainage lines.
The city government has urged residents and consumers to remain vigilant and report any documented sanitation or hygiene violations directly through the Health Services Office for immediate field inspection.
The incident has triggered a wider inspection sweep across city dining hubs, which revealed top violations to be employees working without updated health certificates. The failure to wear mandatory personal protective equipment, such as hairnets, face masks, and spit guards, was also discovered to be a top infraction. By Clariz Hidalgo, UC Intern
