POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato — At least 51 individuals—47 students and four teachers—were taken to a hospital after reportedly experiencing symptoms following exposure to a chemical odor from a pineapple plantation near Perfecto B. Salada Elementary School in Barangay Cannery, Polomolok, South Cotabato, on September 22, 2026.
The incident was reported shortly after a pineapple company sprayed a chemical in a plantation area located near the school at around 8 a.m., according to initial information gathered from local authorities and school personnel.
By around 9 a.m., several students and teachers reportedly began experiencing symptoms including vomiting, dizziness, stomach pain, headache and difficulty breathing after noticing a strong chemical odor in the area.
As the number of affected individuals increased, school personnel sought emergency assistance through the Barangay Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (BDRRMO). The affected students and teachers were subsequently transported to Howard Hubbard Memorial Hospital for medical attention.
Barangay Cannery officials initially reported that nearly 50 students and a teacher had been brought to a health facility. Subsequent information placed the number of individuals brought to the hospital at 51, consisting of 47 students and four teachers.
Five Remain Hospitalized
As of September 23, five individuals—four students and one teacher—remained at the hospital for continued medical observation and treatment.
Polomolok Provincial Administrator Allan Ines said more than 50 students and two teachers were initially brought to the hospital following the incident, although several were able to return home after receiving medical attention.
The differing initial figures may reflect the evolving count of those assessed and transported during the emergency response.
According to a security guard at the school, some of the students experienced vomiting, dizziness and abdominal pain, prompting school personnel to immediately call for rescue assistance.
Local officials said the affected individuals were attended to by medical personnel, with some students subsequently discharged after treatment while others remained under observation.
Chemical Exposure Under Investigation
The circumstances surrounding the reported exposure remain under investigation.
Initial information indicated that the pineapple company was spraying the nearby plantation as part of preparations for the land to be planted. The school is located close to the plantation, and the reported chemical odor was noticed by students and teachers shortly after the spraying activity.
Authorities have not publicly established, based on the information available, the specific chemical involved, the concentration or quantity used, or whether the spraying activity directly caused the reported symptoms.
These details will be important in determining the nature and extent of the exposure and whether the spraying was conducted in accordance with applicable safety and environmental requirements.
The school principal has reportedly already communicated with the company following the incident. The company has also reportedly agreed to shoulder the medical expenses of those affected.
Authorities are expected to continue gathering information from the school, the affected individuals, the plantation operator and other witnesses as the investigation proceeds.
For now, the immediate priority remains the medical condition of the affected students and teachers, particularly those who continue to require hospital observation.