Foreign organization introduces low-cost toilets to Bantayan

CEBU, Philippines - With more than half of the total number of households in Bantayan Island with no access to toilets, an international non-government organization presented low-cost toilet designs fit for their needs and budget.

Camille Alison Adle, sanitation marketing officer of Oxfam, said the program, which was launched yesterday, aims to promote toilet-use to the residents, considering that their survey shows that a huge percent of the island’s population defecate in the woods or the beaches. 

In Barangay Bitoon in Kinatarcan Island (Santa Fe), of the 332 households, 259 do not have access to comfort rooms. In Hilantagaan of the same island, 691 of the 768 households defecate in open spaces.

Kean Jim Agravante, Oxfam’s monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning Officer, said 65 percent of Bantayan Island’s population has no toilets, based on their survey of the 31 barangays from the three towns (Santa Fe, Madridejos and Bantayan). The island has 49 barangays, 31 of them are covered by Oxfam while the rest are by other NGOs.

He said of all the barangays, only Barangay Tamiao in Bantayan town has been declared a “zero open defecation.”

Barangay Tamiao councilwoman Albea Alsojallas said the households now share toilets with neighbors or relatives after the intense sanitation drive they conducted last month. This is the system while residents have yet to build their own comfort rooms.

Oxfam has been helping the island shortly after supertyphoon Yolada wreaked havoc in November 2013. The NGO has been giving livelihood projects to the residents so they can rebuild houses and start living normally again.

Adle said even before yesterday’s launching, they have already been receiving orders of the low-cost toilets from the residents.

Under the program, Oxfam will be providing the toilet designs while the residents pick one that suits their need and budget.

The packages to choose from range from P11,900 to P16,200, depending on the materials to be used in the construction.  — (FREEMAN)