Flor G. Tarriela l December 20, 2024 l Business World
I have this long-standing invitation from Gay Santos, Regional Director of Water Org. for Southeast Asia, to visit her farm. An opportunity came last month when she invited me to the World Toilet Day (WTD) and the Groundbreaking Ceremony on Blended Finance Partnership in Alitagtag, Batangas. What is World Toilet Day? WTD, an official Unite Nations Observance Day is celebrated on November 19 each year, inspiring action to tackle the global sanitation crises. The 2024 theme is “Sanitation for Peace.”
A significant day, the beginning of a transformative journey for the Alitagtag community led by Mayor Ediberto Pongos, Vice Mayor Manuel Abrigo, Richard Ian Bautista and Tameses Garaan ,etc. with the partnership of Water.Org, Lifebank Foundation, donor Cargill, to achieve 100% access to improved toilets. Actually, says Gay, “it is about more than just toilets but about dignity, safety, and opportunity”.
We all know how important water is. We can live without food for 3 weeks but can last no more than 3 days without water. In 2022, only 57% of global population or 4.6B people, use a safety managed sanitation service, 43% doesn’t, or 3.5B people. Of this, over 1.5B people don’t have toilets; and some 419M really have nothing and “just do it anywhere” resulting in poor sanitation Linked to the transmission of many diseases, (e.g., typhoid, intestinal worm infections, diarrhea, etc) even affects stunting and spread of antimicrobial resistance.
In the Philippines, Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, (represented by Assistant Secretary Atty. Paolo Teston) said that over 12.4 million Filipinos still depend on unsafe water sources, while many lack access to basic sanitation facilities. Alarmingly, open defecation remains a widespread practice in many communities. There are many challenges, but he said that in 2022, Philippines achieved 69% increase in households with basic sanitation facilities, with 83.6% of families now having access to these services. However, only 32.3% of barangays have achieved Zero Open Defecation certification, calling for sustained and innovative action. In 2023, the Philippines recorded almost 7,000 food and waterborne diseases, resulting in more than 40 deaths. Thus, he said the DOH places high priority on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) strategies such as:
a) Updating Standards for ensuring water quality- Improving Drinking Water Programs and Promoting Zero Open Defecation.
b) Strengthening Monitoring and Response to respond quickly to waterborn disease outbreaks; and
c) Increasing Public Awareness by conducting campaigns to sustainable water and sanitation practices.
Gay said that something as simple as a toilet can change lives. It can prevent disease, protect women and girls and give families peace of mind that comes with having safe and proper sanitation. The program also spotlights a critical issue -gender equality in sanitation. Women and girls suffer most when toilets are inaccessible and unsafe, facing daily risks to their health, privacy and safety which is unacceptable. Gay stressed that “by ensuring access to proper sanitation, we are not just addressing a basic need but creating a safe , fair world for women and girls to live, learn and thrive.”
Water Org. founded by Gary White and Matt Damon (yes, the actor!) is an international non-profit organization committed to help and ensure that people have access to safe water and sanitation. This is done by partnering with the local government, national agencies, financial institutions, communities etc. and it has been creating impact in 11 countries across the globe.
Congratulations to Water Org. led by Gay and her team Rachel Pestano, Anne Talosig, Arvin Longcop, Josie Mendoza, Edgar Morbos, Myrna Penas etc. for spearheading this initiative with the the LGU of Alitagtag to make water access affordable and sustainable for families in need.
It was a day well spent to keep all of us safe and free from the spread of diseases. Hopefully we can replicate all over the Philippines.
P.S. I do hope we can efficiently collect rainwater during rainy days (which just go to waste) and be able to store and utilize so we have enough during dry season.
*****
Ms. Tarriela was former PNB Chairman and now serves as Board Advisor. She is Citibank’s first Filipina Vice President and a former Undersecretary of Finance. She is director of Nickel Asia Corp., LTG Inc. and FINEX. An environmentalist, she founded Flor’s Garden in Antipolo. For comments: ftarriela@yahoo.com. Photo is from Pinterest.