ILOILO City – The city government is targeting for 80 percent of its barangays to be recognized as zero open defecation (ZOD) communities.
At present, 51 percent, which translates to 92 of the city’s 180 barangays, have achieved the ZOD distinction.
According to Rudy Catahay, the chief sanitation inspector, this marks the highest percentage among highly urbanized cities (HUCs), citing Department of Health (DOH) data..
Yet, Mayor Jerry Treñas has set the bar even higher, indicating that the City Health Office (CHO) is not settling.
“Our goal is to have an even larger number of our barangays achieve the ZOD status. The target is 80 percent of our total 180 barangays,” he stressed.
Being ZOD-compliant signifies that households possess their own sanitary facilities, essentially eradicating the practice of open defecation.
Nevertheless, Treñas acknowledged the inherent challenges, especially given the city’s coastal zones.
“For next year, our strategy includes establishing communal facilities, especially communal toilets, to assist these coastal regions without such amenities,” said Treñas.
In light of the ongoing push, the mayor expressed his optimism and appreciation for the proactive steps of the remaining barangays in their bid for ZOD recognition.
Many barangay officials have taken the initiative of providing their constituents with materials for their septic tanks.
Additionally, sanitation inspectors have been undertaking house-to-house checks to identify households lacking toilets.
Highlighting the significance, Treñas emphasized that achieving ZOD status effectively mitigates risks of diseases like acute gastroenteritis (AGE), cholera, diarrhea, and other waterborne ailments.
The city government declared a state of calamity on Sept. 2, 2022, following an AGE and cholera outbreak, affecting nearly 50 percent or 77 of its barangays.
In a positive stride, on Monday, Sept. 25, an additional 32 barangays were recognized by the CHO for obtaining ZOD status. The honorees included barangays from Molo, La Paz, Lapuz, City Proper, and Mandurriao districts.
The city’s campaign to promote ZOD aligns with the Department of Health Administrative Order 2010-0021 dated June 25, 2010, endorsing “Sustainable Sanitation as the National Policy and Priority Program of the DOH.”/PN
