DOH announces Eastern Visayas barangays with best sanitation practices
Tacloban City (November 25) -- The Department of Health Regional Office 8 recently disclosed the winners of the Regional Search for Barangays with Best Sanitation Practices for this year.
The first place went to Barangay Malibago, of St. Bernard, Southern Leyte while the second place went to Barangay San Vicente of Sulat, Eastern Samar, Director Edgardo M. Gonzaga informed.
Director Gonzaga said that the National Center for Health Development in Manila in coordination with the Department of Health-CHD Eastern Visayas, conducted a validation and evaluation survey in the later part of September this year of the nominee barangays to the Zero Diarrhea: 2009 National Search for the barangay with best sanitary practices.
A team composed of Regional Sanitarian, Engr. Alejandro Rivero, PIO designate Teresita Ortiz and Ms. Helen Cabugwang, conducted the evaluation in the region traveling from one barangay nominee to the other in order to come up with first two bests.
The first and second placers will represent Eastern Visayas to the National Search, Director Gonzaga said.
Aside from the two winners, the other nominees were Barangay Dona Feliza Mejia of Ormoc City in Leyte; Barangay San Juan of Maasin City in Southern Leyte; Barangay Buenavista of Quinapundan, Eastern Samar; and Barangay Panoypoy, Oquendo District of Calbayog City in Samar.
Furthermore, Director Gonzaga informed that on November 10 to 13, the safe staff together with evaluators from Manila, once again validated the two winning barangays in connection with their vying, together with the winners from other regions of the country, for the most coveted national awards.
Last year, the Regional nominees were Barangay Tabi in Sulat, Eastern Samar and Barangay Tongonon in Ormoc City, province of Leyte.
In 2008, about 28 barangays, chosen from among 42,000 other Philippine villages, were presented the Zero Diarrhea Award for implementing the best sanitation practices in the country. Each winning barangay was awarded a plaque and PhP150,000 cash prize.
The Department of Health, taking a more proactive role in finding solutions to the country's sanitation problems, has come up with the granting of Zero Diarrhea awards for barangays with the best sanitation practices, in cooperation with the Centers for Health Development - Regional Technical Working Groups, the Provincial Health Offices, the local government units and the Asian Development Bank.
At least 20 million people in the Philippines do not have access to basic sanitation facilities, and this adversely affects surface and groundwater resources. Thousands suffer from diarrhea and other preventable water-borne diseases, claiming thousands of lives each day, with children as the most vulnerable group. (PIA 8) [top]
