Philippines
WASH Coalition building
WASH Philippines has a wide membership, including some 20 organisations and over 30 local government authorities. The local government authorities are mostly based in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Click here for a list of WASH coalition members.
Focus
In 2008 information materials on the coalition were produced and disseminated and several organisations were convinced to join as members. Further a visioning exercise and strategic planning workshops were conducted with the outcome to (amongst others):
- Work with national and local policy makers as well as the poorest communities to improve access to water supply, sanitation, health and hygiene in areas of the Philippines most in need of them.
- Promote appropriate technologies to improve access to WASH
- Influence local WASH institutions to prioritize the delivery of WASH services in conflict and poverty stricken areas
- Promote WASH education, advocacy, and dissemination of policies and standards at the local level
- Work at the community level as an active partner of WASH national agencies for policy formulation, monitoring and evaluation
Activities and major achievements
Activities of WASH Philippines include:
Members of the WASH coalition participated in national-level discussions and negotiations. This involves action planning for the water and sanitation sector that integrates the operational strategies of the major water supply agencies and the local governments. The collective process aims to harmonise sector stakeholders' development initiatives to achieve water supply targets.
In 2006, the WASH coalition members tested with Schools, parishes, local governments, NGOs, CSOs the temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and turbidity of springs, rivers, lakes, and creeks during World Water Monitoring Day to raise awareness, promote stewardship of local water resources and stimulate interest on the importance of clean water for everyone. In 2008 testing kits were provided by IWA and distributed to partners in remote areas to participate in the monitoring.
Coalition members provide technical assistance to local governments in the ARMM to build their capacity to improve water supply and sanitation service delivery to the poorest and the most disadvantaged.
The poorest families in small island communities are taught how to build their own ferro-cement rainwater harvesting tanks and share the knowledge to others. The construction serves as a WASH training venue for the other members of the community.
Low-cost water supply and sanitation technology options were introduced and demonstrated in communities to enhance local initiatives. The effort showed that water and sanitation systems need not be expensive; that they can offer quick solutions and also contribute to community empowerment.
Results of the assessment were used in the action planning for WASH of 23 municipal local governments.
Coalition members continue to promote sanitation and hygiene in coordination with communities, NGOs and local governments. WASH advocacy materials produced, emphasizing that WASH technologies are affordable ways to improved human wellbeing, to be used in lobbying local governments.
Since 2004 Filipino artists and water advocates have been holding the annual Art for Water Fundraising Exhibit to help the poorest rural areas in the Philippines gain access to water supply and sanitation.
