CEBU CITY, Philippines — Seven barangays of four provinces, comprising Region 7, bagged the Best Sanitation Practices awards conferred by the Department of Health in a rite held at the posh Crown Regency Hotel and Towers yesterday with the presence of DOH-7 director Asuncion Anden.
The awardees are Barangay San Agustin of Sagbayan, Bohol; Brgy. Concepcion of Loay, Bohol; Brgy. Esperanza of Poro, Cebu; Brgy. Day-as of Cordova, Cebu; Brgy. San Miguel of Bacong, Negros Oriental; Brgy. Simacolong of Lazi, Siquijor; and Brgy. Sabang of Larena, Siquijor.
In her speech, Anden said the National Search for Barangay with Best Sanitation Practices (NSBBSP) was launched in consonance with the celebration of the International Year of Sanitation in 2008.
The event was aimed at raising awareness on the need of sanitation, and in promoting and implementing policies to meet sanitation targets under the Millenium Development Goals, among others.
Anden said the program envisions to unify individuals and organizations and other sectors and local govenment units to act collectively to address the concerns of sanitation for “a home is not a home without a toilet.”
Of the seven awardees, only two will be chosen regional winners by the Center for Health Development (CHD) to compete for the national awards.
According to Engr. Evangeline Canoneo of the DOH, the selection indicators are 1) households with sanitary toilet facilities as of final validation by RTWG; 2) coverage of households with access of safe water; 3) improvement in sanitary toilet coverage during final evaluation; 4) approved barangay budget for water and sanitation; and 5) local sanitation initiatives (wastewater, solid waste management, clean and green program, legislative support and community involvement). (FREEMAN)