An additional 22 barangays in Iloilo City have been certified with Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) status in a bid to prevent possible spread of diseases and sustain sanitation to safeguard people’s health.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas said this achievement is very significant to the metropolis especially as it battles against food and water-borne diseases like Acute Gastro Enteritis (AGE).
“We are taking extra efforts to have more ZOD-certified barangays. Initiatives included in the pipeline is the establishment of communal toilets.”
“This is why we are taking extra efforts to have more ZOD-certified barangays. Initiatives included in the pipeline is the establishment of communal toilets,” the mayor stressed.
Awarded with Certificate of Recognition were barangays Balabago; Balantang; Buntatala; Camalig; Cubay; Lanit; MV Hechonova; Tacas; Tagbak; Arguelles; Cuartero; Dungon A; Fajardo; Javellana; Libertad-Sta. Isabel; Lopez Jaena; Ma. Cristina; M.H. Del Pilar; Montinola; Our Lady of Fatima; San Jose; and San Vicente, all in Jaro District.
They were given the certification by Treñas and City Health Officer Dr. Annabelle Tang during Monday’s flag ceremony.
So far, 50 percent of the 180 city barangays are ZOD-certified.
These were the second batch of barangays that were cited after passing the verification on ZOD Program conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) and City Health Office. So far, 50 percent of the 180 city barangays are ZOD-certified.
Tang added that another batch of barangays is expected to get their ZOD certification.
Open defecation refers to the practice of defecating to open spaces, bodies of water, or other public spaces.
As per DOH guidelines, ZOD or Grade 1 (G1) status is achieved when “the households have stopped practicing open defecation and are using sanitary toilets facilities and no human feces are openly visible or exposed to the environment.”
