THE City Health Office (CHO) of Isabela launched a Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) project in Makiri village to encourage safe sanitation.
Makiri is one of the city's 45 villages.
The CHO, through its Environmental Health and Sanitation Division (EHSD), initiated the project on Thursday, May 22, 2025.
The EHSD distributed 47 toilet bowls and 94 sacks of cement to 47 households lacking basic sanitary facilities.
“This intervention is a critical step in promoting safe sanitation practices and eliminating open defecation in the community,” the CHO of Isabela said in a statement.
The distribution in Makiri aligns with the Philippine Approach to Sustainable Sanitation (PhATSS) and national public health standards.
The Isabela CHO stated the ZOD program is vital in preventing waterborne diseases like diarrhea, cholera, and typhoid, often linked to unsanitary conditions.
The project aims to protect local water sources from contamination for a cleaner, healthier environment.
The Isabela CHO added that proper sanitation upholds human dignity and improves overall well-being, especially for vulnerable populations. (SunStar Zamboanga)