The WASH Radio Campaign in the Philippines originally aired from February to July 2009. The WASH Philippines Coalition and Silliman University's Office of Information and Publications broadcasted the radio programme weekdays to the Visayas and Mindanao provinces.
Each radio spot in the Cebuano language sought to raise awareness and inspire people to advocate for improved water supply, sanitation, and hygiene within their communities. "This radio campaign helped bring about awareness and understanding, which are basically the first steps needed toward action," noted Mrs Lyn Capistrano, Executive Director of the Philippine Centre for Water and Sanitation and WSSCC's National Coordinator for the Philippines.
Local governments and support agencies were also targeted. Some of the key messages included the following.
- Low cost WASH technologies are capable of reducing present and future poverty.
- Improved WASH services can only be accomplished through enhanced political will, coordination, and collaboration of all stakeholders.
- Even within a weak institutional environment at the national level, it is possible to improve water and sanitation performance at the local level.
Encouraged by the programme’s success, the coalition and university extended the broadcasts beyond the initial six-month period. The coalition plans to collaborate with more radio stations in other regions of the Philippines in the near future – and is even considering airing a television programme.
