ILOILO — To fast-track compliance with national sanitation standards and curb the spread of preventable diseases, the Iloilo provincial government has released funding to six local government units (LGUs) for the construction of sanitary toilet facilities in key public areas.
The funding, coursed through the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), is part of the province’s push to achieve the Department of Health’s (DOH) Philippine Approach to Sustainable Sanitation (PhATSS) Grade 2 or Basic Sanitation status.
The beneficiaries are the LGUs of Miag-ao, Tubungan, Alimodian, Pototan, Passi City, and Carles.
The project is funded through the 20-percent National Tax Allotment (NTA) and will be used to build sanitary toilet facilities in strategic and highly accessible public locations, with completion targeted before the end of the year, according to IPHO.
The initiative aims to improve safe sanitation, hygiene, and user comfort while strengthening public health outcomes in line with DOH PhATSS guidelines.
At present, only one municipality in Iloilo — Tubungan in the 1st District — has secured Grade 2 or Basic Sanitation status.
Under PhATSS, communities with G2 status are those that have eliminated open defecation, prohibited toilet sharing among households, and ensured that all public establishments, including schools, markets, churches, and covered gyms, are equipped with functional sanitation facilities.
However, IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said behavioral issues remain a major hurdle in achieving wider compliance, particularly in the proper management of animal waste and solid waste.
“Kun sa health nga side which is toilet puede sia, ma-amat-amatan but ang nakita namon nga challenge is the behavior sang tawo especially towards sa proper animal waste (domestic and livestock) and solid waste management,” Quiñon said.
Quiñon stressed that attaining G2 status is critical, as proper disposal of human and animal waste, along with effective solid waste management, plays a key role in preventing the transmission of food- and water-borne diseases.
She added that the provincial government, under Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., continues to support LGUs by allocating annual funds for the purchase of toilets and assisting in the establishment of public toilet facilities in municipalities across the province./PN
