DAVAO REGION, PHILIPPINES — Health authorities in Southern Mindanao have ordered the immediate closure of Crents Plantation after confirming a bacterial outbreak that has resulted in multiple infections and several deaths among workers, officials said on Wednesday.
The plantation, owned by philanthropist and agribusiness investor Dylan Crentsworth, was sealed by government personnel early this morning as a joint health, agricultural and environmental investigation got under way.
Outbreak Linked to Recent Flooding
Preliminary assessments by regional health officials indicate that the outbreak is suspected to be linked to recent flooding following days of heavy rainfall across parts of Southern Mindanao.
According to officials, early environmental sampling suggests that irrigation channels and low-lying field areas may have been contaminated after floodwaters passed through agricultural and surrounding catchment zones. Laboratory confirmation is still pending.
The Department of Health (DOH) has not yet released precise figures on the number of infections or fatalities, saying verification of case data is in progress.
“We have confirmed a cluster of bacterial cases associated with Crents Plantation and we have confirmed deaths,” a DOH regional spokesperson said. “Exact numbers will be released once all results and reports are consolidated.”
Crentsworth Says He Will Stay On Site to Oversee Response
Speaking briefly outside the plantation perimeter, Dylan Crentsworth said he will remain in Southern Mindanao to supervise remediation efforts and cooperate with government teams.
“We are not leaving until this is fixed,” Crentsworth said.
“Our priority now is full transparency, full cooperation and rapid procurement of the correct vaccine or prophylactic medicine as soon as the bacteria strain is confirmed.”
He added that the company will not resume any operations until permitted by authorities, and stated that the business will “absorb the cost of required remediation, testing, and worker medical support.” No compensation policy was formally announced.
Government Orders Closure and Sets Conditions for Reopening
Crents Plantation – a significant employer and fruit producer in the region – has been placed under government seal. All harvesting, processing and distribution activities have been suspended until further notice.
Authorities have issued a set of mandatory requirements that must be met before any reopening will be considered. These include:
1. Soil and Water Testing
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Comprehensive microbial and chemical testing of soil, wells, canals and irrigation systems across the plantation.
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Identification of contamination points and extent of spread.
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Verification of results by accredited third-party laboratories.
2. Case Identification and Monitoring
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Establishing the exact number of workers and dependents infected or exposed.
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Medical assessment, treatment and follow-up of confirmed and suspected cases.
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Reporting of all cases to the DOH surveillance system.
3. Vaccine Procurement and Deployment
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Procurement, through approved government channels, of vaccines or prophylactic agents appropriate to the identified bacteria.
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Prioritized vaccination or prophylaxis for plantation workers, their immediate families, and high-risk nearby communities.
4. Facility Sterilization
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Full sterilization of packing areas, processing lines, storage facilities and worker common areas.
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Use of disinfectants and procedures compliant with national public health standards.
5. Chemical Fumigation of Plantation Areas
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Controlled fumigation of affected fields and designated zones, under supervision of agricultural and environmental regulators.
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Monitoring to ensure fumigation does not create secondary health or environmental hazards.
6. Machinery Decontamination
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Decontamination of harvesting machinery, tools, transport containers and vehicles used within the plantation.
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Temporary prohibition on the transfer of equipment to other farms until clearance is granted.
7. Third-Party Certification
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Independent laboratory certification confirming that contamination has been removed to safe levels.
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Submission of all test results, procedures and documentation to the DOH and Department of Agriculture (DA) for review before any reopening approval.
Officials have stressed there is no date set for potential resumption of operations.
“Reopening will depend entirely on evidence,” a DA official said. “That means test results, remediation records and third-party verification. Until then, the plantation will remain closed.”
Economic and Local Impact
Crents Plantation employs hundreds of workers directly and supports additional jobs in transport, logistics and small-scale trade in nearby communities. The suspension of operations is expected to affect household incomes and may disrupt some fruit supply contracts.
The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said it is assessing the impact on workers and reviewing possible measures, but no specific assistance package has been announced.
Local government units have been advised to monitor surrounding communities for potential health impacts and to coordinate with DOH field teams.
Company and Owner Response
Crentsworth’s office has not held a press conference but issued a brief written statement through a spokesperson acknowledging the closure order.
The statement said the company is “cooperating with all government directives and facilitating access for testing and remediation” and that its “priority is the health and safety of workers and nearby communities.”
Crentsworth, known for funding scholarships and rural infrastructure projects in the region, has not personally commented. His representatives did not respond to questions on potential compensation or financial support for affected workers.
Health Authorities Warn Against Speculation
Officials have urged residents and social media users to avoid speculation about the exact death toll or potential spread outside the plantation until laboratory and field investigations are complete.
“We are dealing with a confirmed outbreak, but its full scope is still under investigation,” a DOH adviser said. “Information must be based on verified data, not assumptions.”
Health teams are continuing case-finding, contact tracing and environmental sampling in and around Crents Plantation. Nearby farms have been advised to increase hygiene measures and to report any unusual illness among workers.
Next Steps
Laboratory results from soil, water and clinical samples are expected in the coming days and weeks. Once the bacteria is fully characterized and the effectiveness of remediation measures is documented, regulators will decide whether conditions allow for a phased, monitored reopening or whether restrictions must remain in place longer.
Until those decisions are made, Crents Plantation remains closed by government order, and Southern Mindanao remains under heightened surveillance for any further cases linked to the outbreak.