The Regional Development Council (RDC) VIII, National Economic and Development Authority VIII, the Department of Health-Eastern Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-EVCHD) the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) Philippines successfully conducted the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Caravan: Part I – Samar Island on 17-19 October 2023, at the Madison Park Hotel, Tacloban City.
The Caravan produced the Samar Island WASH Action Plan as it gathered valuable inputs during the workshops from the 55 participants composed of Provincial/City Planning and Development Coordinators, municipal and other local health officers, and civil society organizations from the three Samar Island provinces, namely Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, and Samar and the cities of Catbalogan and Borongan. The Action Plan covers WASH issues and gaps faced by the local government units, ongoing and planned programs, projects and activities, inclusion and alignment with national and local development plans, and financing requirements, among others.
The conduct of the WASH Caravan was approved by the RDC VIII Full Council through Resolution No. 43, s. 2023, entitled Adopting, Advocating and Monitoring the Implementation of the Philippine Water Supply and Sanitation Master Plan (PWSSMP) and Eastern Visayas Databook and Roadmap.
RDC VIII Chairperson and Ormoc City Mayor Lucy Marie Torres-Gomez, in her opening message, delivered by the NEDA VIII Regional Director and RDC VIII Vice-Chairperson Meylene C. Rosales, hailed the activity as it is aligned with the Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan 2023-2028 strategy to strengthen water governance and foster cooperation between the sector actors. She said that the RDC VIII and the City of Ormoc strongly commit to put into action relevant interventions resulting from the activity.
Chief of WASH-UNICEF Philippines Carlos Vasquez asked local chief executives to use their privilege to build a sustainable future for children today and the generations to come. He enjoined everyone to get rid of the three percent national open defecation rate and provide safe drinking water as a basic human right. Despite the current threats of changing climate, he said that together we can safeguard every child’s right to a healthy and clean environment.
Further, DOH Health Promotion Bureau Director Rodley Desmond Daniel M. Carza commended the conduct of the WASH Caravan as another vital step to attain the country’s commitment to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. He stressed that DOH is a steadfast ally in realizing health behaviors as an easy choice for everyone everywhere.
A total of 25 resource persons and officials from the government agencies (national and regional), private sector, and financial institutions graced the activity and discusses topics relevant to WASH, namely: Water Supply and Sanitation Frameworks, WASH Scenario, WASH Programs, Financing Options for WASH Projects from the Government, Financial Institutions, and Non-government Organizations and Private Sector for WASH, among others.
In her closing message, RD Rosales expressed heartfelt appreciation to all who actively participated in the Caravan. She said that the inputs provided were crucial in ensuring a comprehensive and concrete Plan of Action to address the persistent gaps and issues in the WASH sector. Additionally, the RDC VIII expects the Plan to contain specific relevant details, including sets of doable actions, actors, and financing options as the basis of its endorsement. The output will be initially presented to the RDC VIII-Social Development Committee for subsequent endorsement to the RDC VIII Full Council.
A total of 25 resource persons and officials from the government agencies (national and regional), private sector, and financial institutions graced the activity and discusses topics relevant to WASH, namely: Water Supply and Sanitation Frameworks, WASH Scenario, WASH Programs, Financing Options for WASH Projects from the Government, Financial Institutions, and Non-government Organizations and Private Sector for WASH, among others.
In her closing message, RD Rosales expressed heartfelt appreciation to all who actively participated in the Caravan. She said that the inputs provided were crucial in ensuring a comprehensive and concrete Plan of Action to address the persistent gaps and issues in the WASH sector. Additionally, the RDC VIII expects the Plan to contain specific relevant details, including sets of doable actions, actors, and financing options as the basis of its endorsement. The output will be initially presented to the RDC VIII-Social Development Committee for subsequent endorsement to the RDC VIII Full Council.
The second WASH Caravan for the Provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte, and Biliran is scheduled on the third week of November 2023.
Article by: Meliza Y. Bacolbas, NEDA VIII PMED
Photos by: Judith Maris Torres-Guzman, NEDA VIII FAD
