Health
Health action with informed and engaged societies
Health
As of March 15 2025, The Communication Initiative (The CI) platform is operating at a reduced level, with no new content being posted to the global website and registration/login functions disabled. (La Iniciativa de Comunicación, or CILA, will keep running.) While many interactive functions are no longer available, The CI platform remains open for public use, with all content accessible and searchable until the end of 2025. 

Please note that some links within our knowledge summaries may be broken due to changes in external websites. The denial of access to the USAID website has, for instance, left many links broken. We can only hope that these valuable resources will be made available again soon. In the meantime, our summaries may help you by gleaning key insights from those resources. 

A heartfelt thank you to our network for your support and the invaluable work you do.
Time to read
1 minute
Print
a- a+
Published 23 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

WASH Manila

0 comments
Designed in 2002 by the Wash Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) South-East Asia Coordinating Office, this pilot project addresses inadequate water supply and lack of hygiene and sanitation facilities in urban areas in the Philippines. The goal of the project is to develop a replicable and sustainable water and sanitation system at the Community Center, located in an urban slum area in Isla Putting Bato. This environmentally safe system is meant to support the activities of the Community Center in improving the health of students and their families. Strategies include improving infrastructure, informal education, advocacy, and community organisation.
Communication Strategies

The human waste disposal system and rainwater catchment tank are intended to support the Community Center's nutrition programmes; health, hygiene and sanitation education and advocacy; and assistance to improve the livelihoods of community members. Specifically, it is hoped that the rainwater collected will reduce expenditures, allowing for the purchase of clean water from vendors.


After a training seminar, 87 Teacher Training Coordinators from the Non-Formal Education Services of the City of Manila are enabled to serve as WASH Advocates, speaking to grassroots communities about the importance of safe water and hygiene. A module on WASH is being developed to add to the curriculum of the non-formal education system in the City of Manila.

Development Issues

Health, Environment, Children.

Key Points

Programme organisers say that what little water is available in the Philippines is sold by water merchants at a very high price. Environmental pollution and the presence of garbage and raw sewage contribute to the deteriorating health and hygiene situation of the slum dwellers.


WSSCC is an international organisation that works to enhance collaboration in water supply and sanitation among multi-stakeholders. During the International Conference on Freshwater in Bonn, Germany in December 2001, the WSSCC introduced a global campaign called WASH - Water, Sanitation and Hygiene for all.


Project accomplishments to date include the construction of a three-cubic metre rainwater catchment tank. Excavations are underway for the new septic tank. As part of the WASH Hand-Washing campaign, a locally-made soap developed by a woman inventor will be packaged by the women in the community to be used by school children and sold at an affordable price to the community. A WASH Task Force made up of media, local government, NGOs, health representatives, and community members has been set up to oversee the viability and sustainability of this project.

Partners

WSSCC, Asian Alliance of Appropriate Technology Practitioners (APPROTECH Asia), Kababaihan ng Maynila (a women's cooperative), the Non-Formal Education Services, the Philippine Ports Authority, the City Government of Manila, and the people of Isla Puting Bato.

Sources

Document entitled "WASH MANILA: Promoting Strategic Partnerships, Developing Agents of Change" sent from Eirah Gorre-Dale to The Communication Initiative on July 15, 2002. Source listed in the document: Dr. Angelo Juan O. Ramos of APPROTECH Asia.