OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF COUNCILOR WILSON GAMBOA, JR.

On the issue concerning the reported presence of “one tiny bit of foreign object” found in one cup of Arroz Caldo of a Job Order (JO) named Donna Mae Moreno from the Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) on Friday, January 16, 2026.

I hereby state my position as follows:

Based on the laboratory test result dated January 19, 2026, tested by the Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative – Analytical and Diagnostic Laboratory, said foreign object is “unknown” and Total Coliform and E. Coli test result is – NEGATIVE.

The preparation and distribution of the Arroz Caldo, conducted under my supervision, is part of the feeding program which has been consistently implemented by me for the past twenty-five (25) years, even before my involvement in local partisan politics. Its primary objective is nutritional intervention, particularly to support cognitive development among indigent learners, while also benefiting adults and senior citizens.

The Arroz Caldo is vegetable-fortified and, on many occasions, is voluntarily offered during public activities, fiestas and where people are required to wait for extended periods, such as during the business permit processing on January 16, 2026. This program is both an advocacy, a personal commitment to public health, public service and nutrition, where I could personally interact with the people
Aside from the laboratory test, the reported “foreign object” was “one tiny bit of foreign object WITH NO FOUL SMELL”, as initially seen, smelled and inspected by Dr. Edwin Miraflor, Medical Officer of the Bacolod City Health Office. It was found in ONE CUP ONLY, as against the hundreds of cups served that day.

Said “Tiny Object” is categorically not part of the ingredients, preparation, or cooking process of the Arroz Caldo. Over the course of twenty-five years, this program has served more than one million cups (still counting to this date) to residents across all 61 barangays of Bacolod City, without a single complaint.

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 (kaldero). If it is hazardous, it cannot withstand the cooking heat, thus posing no danger to health.

The object in question should be considered a foreign object that could only have been introduced, specifically between the time when this complaining Job Order (JO) employee received multiple cups of Arroz Caldo from my serving staff and the time when she brought these cups to the BPLO office, until the object was eventually noticed in “her own cup only”.

Given its size, such an object would have been clearly visible during stirring and serving and should have been noticed by the complaining individual HERSELF who received the Arroz Caldo during distribution.

Nevertheless, upon learning of the incident and personally seeing the foreign object, my office staff immediately coordinated with the City Health Office (CHO), requested the proper laboratory examination of said “one tiny bit of foreign object” in question, and the said reported foreign object was sent to the Negros Prawn Producers Cooperative – Analytical and Diagnostic Laboratory.

For my part, 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.

Guided by the principles of transparency, accountability and strict adherence to health protocols, I hereby submit this position statement for public scrutiny, understanding, and the proper appreciation of the facts by all concerned.*