EcoSan, Philippines

The StockholmEnvironment Institute (SEI) EcoSanRes Program recently released a newpublication entitled: “PracticalGuidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production”. The bookgives practical guidance on the use of urine in crop production as a vitalcomponent of sustainable crop production and sanitation systems. It alsoincludes guidance on how to start activities that will facilitate theintroduction of new fertilizers to the agricultural community. The handbookshould help in establishing links between research and professionals interestedin implementation of sustainable sanitation systems. It is easy to read andinformative, with examples from case studies and hints on further reading forthose interested. (clickhere to download)

DOH Administrative Order on Sustainable Sanitation

Dear Friends,

The DOH recently signed an AdministrativeOrder on Sustainable Sanitation (SUSAN). Thanks to former Secretary Cabral and the SUSEA team of Dr. Jimmy Tan for making this possible. This is a very good policy document that we, as sanitation advocates can utilize to push our agenda of sustainable sanitation further. It has adopted the Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap strategy and have given marching orders to the different units of the DOH on their roles in pushing the implementation of the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan.

Events

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Announcements

ON GOING RESEARCHES

URINE FIELD TEST

The CAPS/PEN Knowledge Node Project is undertaking a study on Urine as fertilizer. This study will investigate the average nutrient content in human urine coming from different areas in thePhilippines as well as appropriate urine application levels for different representative vegetable crops for 4 different areas in the Philippines. The findings of this study will finally enter into a Philippine guideline on the use ofurine as a liquid fertilizer in small-scale agriculture. The research study commenced March 2010 is expected to be completed in six (6) months. Team Leader for this research is Mr. Robert Gensch of Xavier University.

STATE OF SCHOOL SANITATION

Another CAPS/PEN Knowledge Node Project research is about Public Elementary School Sanitation in the country. The proposed research would assess sanitation conditions in public elementary school settings. This would help provide the needed basis for subsequent sanitation related interventions, which could either come in the form of (i) policy recommendations, (ii) augmentation of infrastructure, (iii)strengthened sanitation advocacies, and other complimentary programs/projects that could be pursued by the Department of Education and respective schools. The research study started around April 2010 is expected to be completed in six (6) months. Tea Leader for this study is Ms. Grace Sapuay, independent consultant.

EMERGENCY SANITATION

Because of the Ondoy floodings last September 2009, Emergency Sanitation became a hot topic so much so that it was prioritized as one of the five focus areas of newly approved Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap (PSSR). It was then a logical move for the CAPS/PEN Knowledge Node Project, in cooperation with the Department of Health, to look more seriously on the topic of Emergency Sanitation. The main output of this policy research activity is the formulation an official Department of Health (DOH) Policy on Disaster Response and Risk Reduction on Sanitation in Emergency Situations in the form of a Department Administrative Order and an Action Plan. The second output expected from this activity is a Philippine Emergency Sanitation Reference Book intended for publication and distribution.

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Progress on sanitation and drinking-water 2010 update

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Please check out the latest

GREASE INTERCEPTOR SIZING TOOL
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General Assembly declares access to clean water and sanitation is a human right

28 July 2010 – Safe and clean drinking water and sanitation is a human right essential to the full enjoyment of life and all other human rights, the General Assembly declared today, voicing deep concern that almost 900 million people worldwide do not have access to clean water.

The 192-member Assembly also called on United Nations Member States and international organizations to offer funding, technology and other resources to help poorer countries scale up their efforts to provide clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for everyone.

The Assembly resolution received 122 votes in favour and zero votes against, while 41 countries abstained from voting.

The text of the resolution expresses deep concern that an estimated 884 million people lack access to safe drinking water and a total of more than 2.6 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation. Studies also indicate about 1.5 million children under the age of five die each year and 443 million school days are lost because of water- and sanitation-related diseases.

Today’s resolution also welcomes the UN Human Rights Council’s request that Catarina de Albuquerque, the UN Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, report annually to the General Assembly as well.

MEMO from the BOSS*

URGENT

Date:              July 22, 2010

TO:                PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON AQUINO III

FROM:           YOUR BOSS*

Re:                  MOVING TOWARDS A CLEAN AND HEALTHY REPUBLIC

We want a country free of un-managed human shit!

-          One in every 5 Filipino households does not have a sanitary toilet; many are very poor households who either share facilities, use unsanitary ones or defecate in the open.

-          Many school children suffer from poorly maintained and inadequate number of sanitary toilets.

-          Many government offices have very filthy toilets for the public.

-          There are still about 10 million Filipinos who defecate in the open.

-          93 Filipinos fall sick every hour and 24 die each day from diarrhoea.

-          Many of those who have toilets have faulty septic tanks with unsealed flooring that discharge untreated wastewater, severely polluting our water resources.

-          The World Bank estimated in 2008, that poor sanitation costs the country at least P78 billion in economic losses in avoidable health, fisheries and tourism costs.

In line with the Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap and the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan prepared by the DOH, we want the Aquino Administration to include sanitation as a priority, in particular to:

a.     Declare a Presidential Flagship Pro-poor Sanitation Program for all barangays INCLUDING a Zero Open Defecation campaign led by the DOH.

b.    Direct all national and local government agencies to develop and implement sustainable sanitation plans and programs.

c.     Direct all national and local government offices to ensure that sanitary toilets and sinks with soap are available in their premises for the use of the general public.

Given the urgent need to improve sanitation in the country, we expect that sanitation will be mentioned in your forthcoming State of the Nation Address. We support your leadership and expect your directives on sanitation to be immediately implemented by your departments and the local government units.

*"BOSS" represents all the Filipinos who are concerned, affected, and worried of the effects of poor sanitation in our country.

Signed:

Rory L. Villaluna

PEN President, STREAMS of KNOWLEDGE

Danilo G. Lapid

Center for Advanced Philippine Studies (CAPS)

Engr. Jay Tecson

Philippine Sanitation Alliance (PSA)

Dr. Eduardo Janeiro

Department of Health (DoH)

Albert Ual

Local Government Academy (LGA)

Engr. Jonas Maronilla

BNS-BORDA

Engr. Ma. Sonabel Anarna

DoH

Lilia Casanova

CAPS

Karl Galing

World Bank, Water and Sanitation Programme

Engr. Marieto Perez

Watsan Specialist

Doreen E. Erfe

Philippine Water Revolving Fund - Support Program

Leo De Castro

CAPS

Elisea G. Gozun

Earth Day Network, Philippines

Dr. Gina Itchon

Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan (XU)

Jema Sy

WB-WSP

Lina Onesa

Tulay sa Pag-Unlad, Inc. (TSPI)

Violeta S. Seva

Makati City

Philip "Bong" Lattonero

Q.C. Urban Poor Council of Leaders Cooperative

Dominic P. Flores

Barangay Pansol, Quezon City

Jesus B. Maglente

Q.C. Urban Poor Council of Leaders Cooperative

Russiel M. Lozada

Pasig Environmental Multi-purpose Cooperative

Arceli C. Concepcion

Q.C. Urban Poor Council of Leaders Cooperative

Paul A. Ticyado, Jr.

Linis-Ganda Quezon City Environmental Cooperative

Alexander P. Arreola

Federation of Metro Manila Environmental Cooperative

Mechelle S. Cao

Metro Manila Linis-Ganda, Inc.

Iluminada P. Teves

Quezon City Environmental Cooperative

Irene L. Castro

GMA Junkshop Association Member, Sagip Basura Junkshop

Rose Nambatac

APESHAI, Primarosa Subdivision, Buhay na Tubig, Imus, Cavite

Luis S. Sabater

PDG, Quezon City LGU

Veronica B. Valerio

Quezon City Environmental Cooperative

Atty. Dwight R. Ramor

Executive Director, SWACAP

Rizalyn D. Medrano

City ENRO, San Fernando, La Union

Alex C. Vaguismia

Metro Clark Water Management Corp.

Jong Risare

Payatas, Quezon City

Ma. Delia M. Valdez

National Solid Waste Management Commission, Secretariat

Roberto Olivia

Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP)

Wilson Gabay

Payatas, Quezon City

Juliu S. Masued

Payatas, Quezon City

Jhunior R. Macasleb

Payatas, Quezon City

Norvin M. Palacio

Payatas, Quezon City

Rudolf Barcelona

Payatas, Quezon City

Roberto Olivia

Cadlo Vincent Chua

Payatas, Quezon City

Priscilla I. Daquioag

SWAPP

Adelia R. Licos

Clean Cities, Makati Coalition

Emelita C. Aguinaldo

NSWMC, Secretariat

Vilma Orogo

Tanza I, Antipolo City, Rizal

Elsie Encarnacion

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

Edgardo Salvador

Tanza I, Antipolo City, Rizal

Rommel I. Daquioag

SWAPP

Michelle D. Villanueva

CENRO, Antipolo City, Rizal

Fe T. Romano

SWAPP

Annie V. Farrales

Adelfa C. Algodon

Malabon

Carlos N. Diaz

Malabon

Glenda T. dela Cruz

PCUP

Len Roque-Alanzalon

PCUP

Emma L. Santiago

PCUP

Jeffrey Smith

Well of Life Community Development, Inc.

Mary Jane Ortega

CityNet

Olivia la O' Castillo,

United Nations Secretary General Advisory Board (UNSGAB) /SDSAP

Dick Borbe

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Robert Serrano

CAPS

Dr. Nathaniel von Einsiedel

CONCEP, Inc.

Edgar Viterbo

PLAN International, Philippines

Evelyn Mendoza

Coffey International Development, Pty. Ltd.

Engr. Marlon Oiga

BNS-BORDA

Engr. Melisa Therese N. Malingan-Sapdoy

Development Alternatives, Inc.

Lisa Kircher Lumbao

PSA

Yolanda Gomez, STREAMS

For more information for pro-poor sanitation and zero open-defecation,please visit official Philippine Ecosan Network (PEN) website at www.ecosan.ph,and/or call 02-7882429; 02-4339042

PEN Is Formalized!

PEN Is Formalized!
By: Lilia GC. Casanova, CAPS

Over the last six years, PEN has been on a long and wide, uncharted waterway. It was like a finite wave bobbing from crest to crest and bouncing back as it reaches shore. So, what is PEN? Who are we as members of PEN? What do we do as PEN? Why do we do what we do? And what do we want PEN to be known for? - were the questions that PEN members dissected and sought answers to during its Strategic Planning Workshop from 19-21 May 2010 at the Taal Vista Lodge in Tagaytay City. Finally, after three days of tumultuous but friendly, objective discussions in the course of soul-searching and self-discovery, PEN surfaced as an entity with a clear purpose. Members began to see PEN mutating from an ambiguous ‘paramecium-like'organism (to quote Boni) into a latent ‘development machine' with brain and care power, bursting at the seams with ideas and raring to participate inrealizing the vision of a clean and safe Philippines with toilets in every home.