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Food and Waterborne Diseases (FWBDs) [0] are among the most common causes of diarrhea. In the Philippines, diarrheal diseases for the past 20 years is the number one cause of morbidity and mortality incidence rate is as high as 1,997 per 100,000 population while mortality rate is 6.7 per 100,000 population. From 1993 to 2002, FWBDs such as cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and other food poisoning/foodborne diseases were the most common outbreaks investigated by the Department of Health. Also, outbreaks from FWBDs can be very passive and catastrophic. Since most of these diseases have no specific treatment modalities, the best approach to limit economic losses due to FWBDs is prevention through health education and strict food and water sanitation.

The Food and Waterborne Disease Prevention and Control Program (FWBDPCP) established in 1997 but became fully operational in year 2000 with the provision of a budget amounting to PHP551,000.00. The program focuses on cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and other foodborne emerging diseases (e.g. Paragonimiasis [0]). Other diseases acquired through contaminated food and water not addressesd by other services fall under the program.