Saturday, April 05, 2008 Sanitation urged in public facilities By Rachelle Nessia
A HIGH-ranking government official has called on local chief executives to make sure that sanitation is observed in public facilities in their localities.
Ramon Alikpala, Executive Director of the National Water Resources Board, said in a press conference yesterday that public places such as city and municipal halls should have safe, clean water and soaps inside public comfort rooms.
"Washing the hands with soap and water is one way of protecting yourself from diseases," said Alikpala, who was one of the guests during the two-day Visayas-Mindanao Sanitation Summit held April 2 to 3 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center.
The summit, attended by high-level representatives from local government units in Visayas and Mindanao, is in line with the declaration of 2008 as International Year of Sanitation by the United Nations.
The regional summit aims to raise awareness among LGUs of the necessity of a well-functioning and sustainable sanitation so that they will prioritize sanitation in their agenda and place budget for sanitation activities in their localities.
In a press conference last April 2, Negros Oriental Governor Emilio C. Macias II said he hopes the conference could come up with mechanisms for LGUs to enhance and facilitate the formation of different sanitation projects.
Negros Oriental is one of the provinces in the country recognized by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) for its efforts in ensuring sustainable sanitation in its localities.
The provincial government, said Vice Governor Jose Baldado, has earlier created, through an executive order, Water Sanitation Development Council to integrate different government programs with regards to water management and sanitation.
However, Alikpala clarified the summit was held in the province not because of sanitation problems.
"Let me make it clear that holding it here in Dumaguete is not an indication that the problem of sanitation is most severe in this region but on the contrary it shows that this province takes this issue more seriously and they should be commended for trying to increase awareness of this problem that is plaguing the entire country," he said.
He said the provincial government should be lauded for hosting the two-day summit.
German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) conducted the summit, together with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) with the theme: "Sharing our Contribution in Building a Strong Nation through Sustainable Sanitation."
Engineer Hanns-Bernd Kuchta, GTZ Program Director, said the regional summit kicked off with an awareness-raising event in Quezon City in January "but that event was not as big as this one is, and there are already success stories to share to help local government units tackle the sanitation issue."
Kuchta said GTZ and the Philippine government have been tackling the water and sanitation issue for about eight years now.
According to DILG, almost 31 percent of the reported illnesses in the country from 1996-2000 were caused by unsafe water due to poor sanitation.
Contaminated drinking water is one of the most prevalent causes of illnesses, while about 18 Filipinos die each day from water and sanitation-related causes.
On the other hand, health services is one of the four areas that will be enhanced in the four agreements sealed between the Philippines and the Republic of Palau.
The Philippines and the Republic of Palau sealed four agreements designed to further enhance the two nations' cooperation in education, health services, air services and telecommunications.
The Amendment to the Bilateral Air Services Agreement by and between the Philippines and Palau, Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on Academic Cooperation between the Commission on Higher Education of the Philippines and the Palau Community College were signed in Malacanang on the last day of the two-day State Visit of Palau President Tommy Remengesau Jr. to the Philippines. (PIA/RMN)
