Philippines: Sanitation in public facilities urged

Sanitation in public facilities urged

By Rachelle Nessia

Dumaguete City (3 April) — A high-ranking government official has called on local chief executives to make sure that sanitation is observed in public facilities in their localities.

Ramon Alikpala, executive director of the National Water Resources Board, said in a press conference yesterday that public places such as city and municipal halls should have safe, clean water and soaps inside the public comfort rooms.

“Washing the hands with soap and water is one way of protecting yourself from diseases,” said Alikpala, who was one of the guests during the two-day Visayas-Mindanao Sanitation Summit held April 2 to 3 at the Negros Oriental Convention Center.

The summit, attended by high level representatives from local government units in Visayas and Mindanao, is in line with the declaration of 2008 as International Year of Sanitation by the United Nations.

The regional summit aims to raise the awareness among LGUs for the necessity of a well-functioning and sustainable sanitation so that they will put prioritize sanitation in their agenda and place budget for sanitation activities in their localities.

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