Only Cogon Ramos has complete toilets

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City may well be a highly-urbanized city, yet only one of the 80 barangays has achieved the “Zero Open Defecation” (ZOD) status.

This means only Barangay Cogon Ramos has toilets and has complied with the proper construction and management of its septic tank in its households and establishments, according to a report of the City’s PIO.

“Cogon Ramos is the only barangay that reached ZOD because gipasabot nila (ang ilang constituents) on the importance of having their own toilets,” said Dr. Sergio Javier, City Health Department’s (CHD) environmental and industrial sanitation division head.

Javier said they are encouraging the 79 other barangays to duplicate Cogon Ramos’ efforts.

In 2009, the Cebu City Government has put up communal toilets in Barangays Ermita, Mambaling, Pasil, and Suba.

However, only Pasil was able to maintain the facility.  The other barangays reportedly lack manpower to do the job.

As the returning City Health Officer, Dr. Daisy Villa said she will look at the respective sanitation situation of each barangay so she would know what proper interventions her office could provide.

“Nindot man gud na specific atong interventions kay different baya ang situation per barangay. That is why I need the data,” added Villa.

Javier said they will provide the data soon.

To help curb the high prevalence of diseases caused by the lack of toilets in almost all barangays in the city, CHD is launching its ZOD program on November 19 in Cogon Ramos.

“This launch is very important because having a sanitation facility is not a luxury but a necessity for every household,” said Villa.

Javier also said one disease that is caused by poor sanitation is an infection in the gut, which affects the body’s capacity to absorb nutrients.

The city’s 80 barangay captains and their respective barangay health officers are expected to join the launching so they would also learn about the importance of having toilets and the diseases that would surface when there is none.

“Nindot sab kung naa sila (barangay captains) kay at least makabalo ta nga dili lang diay ta basta-basta magtukod og mga toilets naa sab diay mga requirements that we have to meet also,” Javier said.

The CHD will invite a resource speaker from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 to talk on the minimum requirements for communal toilets during its launch.

“That is why we are pushing (to realize) this because not only nga atong trabaho ni but also it is our duty to help reduce diseases relating to this as well,” Javier said. (FREEMAN)