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
The coalition aims to increase water supply and sanitation coverage in communities most in need of them. Strengthening of the national WASH coalition is on-going while collective activities in advocacy, sanitation promotion and action research are being undertaken. Most of the coalition members work in the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) where human development indicators are low as compared to other regions in the Philippines.
Activities, Milestones and Major Achievements
Activities of WASH Philippines include:
Since 2004 Filipino artists and water advocates have been holding the annual Art for Water Fund-Raising Exhibit to help the poorest rural areas in the Philippines have access to water supply and sanitation.
In 2006, the WASH coalition members tested with local people 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. This was done in cooperation with the International Water Association and the Water Environment Federation.
- Technical Assistance to Local Governments
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.
- Rainwater harvesting for drinking water supply of small island communities
The poorest families in small island communities of the Tawi-Tawi Archipelago and other island groups in the Philippines are being taught how to build their own ferro-cement rainwater harvesting tanks and share the knowledge to others. Every tank construction serves as a WASH training venue for the other members of the community. About 400 rainwater harvesting tanks for households, mosques, schools and village halls have already been built.
- Construction of water supply and sanitation facilities
Low-cost water supply and sanitation technology options were introduced and constructed with communities to enhance local initiatives and lead to benefits in health and general well-being. Aside from teaching the technologies to people most in need of them, the effort was meant to show that water and sanitation systems need not be expensive; that they offer quick solutions and also contribute to community empowerment.
- Assessment of municipal water resources and sanitation situation
Results of the assessment were used in the action planning for WASH of 23 municipal local governments.
- Sanitation and hygiene promotion
Coalition members continue to promote sanitation and hygiene in coordination with communities, NGOs and local governments.
- Participation in the Water Supply Sector Roadmap Project
Members of the WASH coalition participate in the on-going national-level discussions. This project also 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 effort is a collective process in which sector stakeholders harmonize development initiatives to achieve water supply targets, agreeing on the statement of problems and issues to be addressed.
