ILOILO – Scoring a major public health milestone, 74 barangays across Iloilo Province have achieved the Philippine Approach to Sustainable Sanitation (PhATSS) Grade 2 Certification, as local governments intensify efforts to eliminate open defecation and improve sanitation standards in communities.
The achievement highlights the growing success of the province’s campaign for safer and more sustainable sanitation practices, with the municipality of Tubungan making history as the first local government unit in Iloilo to secure 100 percent PhATSS Grade 2 certification in all of its 48 barangays.
The certification, one of the priority programs of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO), recognizes villages that have attained Basic Sanitation Status and complied with key public health standards.
According to IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon, the accomplishment reflects the collective “commitment of our barangays, local government units, health workers, sanitation inspectors, and community partners in promoting safe sanitation, improving public health, and creating cleaner, healthier communities for every Ilonggo.”
She expressed hope that the milestone would encourage more communities to pursue universal access to safe and sustainable sanitation throughout the province.
Grade 2 or Basic Sanitation Status is awarded to communities that have successfully eliminated open defecation, prohibited toilet sharing among households, and ensured that public facilities such as schools, markets, churches, and covered gyms are equipped with functional sanitation facilities.
Among the municipalities with PhATSS Grade 2-certified barangays are Badiangan, Bingawan, Concepcion, Lambunao, Leganes, Mina, Oton, and San Dionisio.
Lambunao posted the highest number of newly certified barangays with 10, followed by Oton with six.
Here’s the breakdown of barangays that achieved PHATSS G2 Certification:
* Badiangan (one) – Barangay Mainguit
* Bingawan (two) – barangays Quinagyana and Cairohan
* Concepcion (one) – Barangay Niño
* Lambunao (10) – barangays Jorog, Quiling, Binabaan Portigo, Binabaan Limoso, Cabunlawan, Binabaan Armada, Agtuman, Corot-on, Cayan Oeste, and Binabaan Tirador.
* Leganes (three) – barangays Calaboa, San Vicente, and Cagamutan Norte
* Mina (two) – barangays Nasirum and Guibuangan
* Oton (six) – barangays Turog-turog, Bita Norte, Batuan Ilaya, Abilay Sur, Santa Clara, and Tuburan
* San Dionisio (one) – Barangay Naborot
The province, which has 1,721 barangays, continues to push for wider adoption of sanitation standards as part of its efforts to prevent disease, improve environmental health, and enhance the quality of life in Iloilo’s communities./PN
