Authorities say vaccine procurement is now required before any reopening, while nearby communities express concern over potential spread and income loss.
DAVAO REGION, PHILIPPINES — Health officials confirmed on Friday that additional deaths have been recorded in the ongoing bacterial outbreak linked to Crents Plantation, intensifying public concern in Southern Mindanao as the facility remains under government seal.
The plantation, owned by philanthropist and agribusiness investor Dylan Crentsworth, has been shut since Wednesday. Authorities now report a growing number of suspected infections among workers and nearby residents, though laboratory results and exact figures remain under validation.
Suspected Flood-Linked Contamination Continues to Be Investigated
Health officials maintain that the outbreak is suspected to have originated from flooding caused by recent heavy rainfall, which may have contaminated plantation soil and irrigation systems with pathogens carried through agricultural runoff.
Teams from the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continue to conduct soil, water and clinical sampling, with expanded investigations now reaching irrigation canals outside the plantation boundary.
A DOH laboratory coordinator said investigators are prioritizing identifying the exact strain of the bacteria, which will determine the required vaccine or prophylactic treatment.
“Speculation does not help response management. We need confirmed strain identification before vaccine procurement,” the official said.
Operational Standstill and Heightened Monitoring
Since the plantation was sealed, activity within the site has been limited to inspection teams and decontamination assessors. Armed security from local government units has been placed at entry points to restrict movement.
Nearby villages have been advised to avoid plantation waterways, restrict agricultural water use and immediately report any unusual symptoms among workers or family members.
Community health centers in affected barangays have also been instructed to document suspected cases and increase monitoring, though officials stress that the area is not under quarantine.
“This is a facility closure, not a community lockdown,” a DOH representative clarified.
Government: Vaccine Procurement Is Responsibility of the Company
Authorities have stated that because Crents Plantation is privately owned, the cost and procurement of required vaccines or prophylactic agents will be handled by the company, once the bacterial strain is confirmed.
“The responsibility to secure and administer vaccines among its workers rests with the plantation,” a DA official said. “The government will approve and supervise safety, but it will not shoulder procurement for a private enterprise.”
Crentsworth has publicly stated he will remain in the region and oversee compliance.
“We will cooperate fully. We will procure the appropriate vaccine as soon as laboratory identification is finalized,” Crentsworth said in a brief statement Thursday.
Public Reaction: Panic, Economic Anxiety and Calls for Transparency
Reactions among residents have been mixed since the closure was announced. Some welcome the shutdown as a necessary containment step, while others express fear over income losses and possible spread into surrounding farming communities.
Small-business owners who depend on plantation activity report immediate declines in daily income, while families of workers have begun requesting clarity on medical support.
“People are afraid of getting sick, but they are equally afraid of having no work,” said a local food vendor near the plantation entrance.
In nearby villages, reports of panic buying of bottled water and basic medicine have surfaced, though officials say there is no confirmation that contamination has spread beyond plantation-linked cases.
Social media posts reflect two dominant views: those demanding faster vaccine acquisition by Crents Plantation, and others calling for government intervention if the company fails to do so promptly. A smaller number of users have circulated unverified claims of wider contamination, prompting DOH appeals for caution.
“All updates must come from verified field reports, not assumptions,” a regional DOH adviser said.
Next Steps
Key pending steps include:
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Final laboratory identification of the bacterial strain
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Submission of case numbers verified by health inspectors
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Procurement of appropriate vaccine or prophylactic treatment by Crents Plantation
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Documentation and certification of decontamination procedures
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Government assessment for possible phased reopening
Health officials warn that the timeline remains uncertain and depends on laboratory results and company compliance.
Until then, Crents Plantation remains closed, and heightened surveillance continues across nearby agricultural zones. Local authorities urge residents to follow only verified government advisories as public health efforts proceed.