MATAG-OB, LEYTE, Philippines – Three remote villages in this town were the first in Leyte province to be certified “zero open defecation” barangays, during a ceremony conducted by the Save The Children organization with health and local officials on Saturday.
The ZOD certification of these barangays—Bulak, Masaba and San Dionesio—meant that residents here no longer defecate just anywhere because they already have toilets in their houses, unlike in the past when 70 percent of the households had no toilet at all. The STC adopted these barangays and donated toilet materials to each of the 135 houses in Bulak, 137 in Masaba and 82 in San Dionesio.
The recipients constructed their own comfort rooms based on the design set by STC, which monitored every now and then if the design was followed. They were also taught on proper hygiene and sanitation to ensure sustainability of the project.
“The communities that achieved zero open defecation were successful because they now see the importance of proper hygiene and sanitation,” said Reggie Aquino, program development and quality manager of STC.
Representative Lucy Torres-Gomez (4th district), represented by her brother-in-law Ormoc City Councilor Vincent Rama, thanked STC for the project and cited the barangay health workers who assisted in its implementation.
Vice Mayor Michael Torrevillas, for his part, also said that STC has greatly helped Matag-ob town recover fast from Yolanda’s wrath.
Thomas Howells, field manager for STC-Western Leyte, said “the reason why these barangays are the first is because they responded quickly. They are now protected from diseases caused by open defecation” and that the residents are given dignity for having a healthy environment.”
To date, STC has provided construction materials for over 6,525 toilets in 32 barangays and plans to help build 3,475 more across 47 barangays this year.
STC’s Ormoc hub covers the towns of Matag-ob, Kananga, Capoocan, Villaba, and Merida. Other villages slated for ZOD certification are Payao in Villaba; and San Ignacio, Santa Domingo and Libertad in Kananga.