EcoSan, Philippines

The StockholmEnvironment Institute (SEI) EcoSanRes Program recently released a newpublication entitled: “PracticalGuidance on the Use of Urine in Crop Production”. The bookgives practical guidance on the use of urine in crop production as a vitalcomponent of sustainable crop production and sanitation systems. It alsoincludes guidance on how to start activities that will facilitate theintroduction of new fertilizers to the agricultural community. The handbookshould help in establishing links between research and professionals interestedin implementation of sustainable sanitation systems. It is easy to read andinformative, with examples from case studies and hints on further reading forthose interested. (clickhere to download)

DOH Administrative Order on Sustainable Sanitation

Dear Friends,

The DOH recently signed an AdministrativeOrder on Sustainable Sanitation (SUSAN). Thanks to former Secretary Cabral and the SUSEA team of Dr. Jimmy Tan for making this possible. This is a very good policy document that we, as sanitation advocates can utilize to push our agenda of sustainable sanitation further. It has adopted the Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap strategy and have given marching orders to the different units of the DOH on their roles in pushing the implementation of the National Sustainable Sanitation Plan.

Announcements

ON GOING RESEARCHES

URINE FIELD TEST

The CAPS/PEN Knowledge Node Project is undertaking a study on Urine as fertilizer. This study will investigate the average nutrient content in human urine coming from different areas in thePhilippines as well as appropriate urine application levels for different representative vegetable crops for 4 different areas in the Philippines. The findings of this study will finally enter into a Philippine guideline on the use ofurine as a liquid fertilizer in small-scale agriculture. The research study commenced March 2010 is expected to be completed in six (6) months. Team Leader for this research is Mr. Robert Gensch of Xavier University.

STATE OF SCHOOL SANITATION

Another CAPS/PEN Knowledge Node Project research is about Public Elementary School Sanitation in the country. The proposed research would assess sanitation conditions in public elementary school settings. This would help provide the needed basis for subsequent sanitation related interventions, which could either come in the form of (i) policy recommendations, (ii) augmentation of infrastructure, (iii)strengthened sanitation advocacies, and other complimentary programs/projects that could be pursued by the Department of Education and respective schools. The research study started around April 2010 is expected to be completed in six (6) months. Tea Leader for this study is Ms. Grace Sapuay, independent consultant.

EMERGENCY SANITATION

Because of the Ondoy floodings last September 2009, Emergency Sanitation became a hot topic so much so that it was prioritized as one of the five focus areas of newly approved Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap (PSSR). It was then a logical move for the CAPS/PEN Knowledge Node Project, in cooperation with the Department of Health, to look more seriously on the topic of Emergency Sanitation. The main output of this policy research activity is the formulation an official Department of Health (DOH) Policy on Disaster Response and Risk Reduction on Sanitation in Emergency Situations in the form of a Department Administrative Order and an Action Plan. The second output expected from this activity is a Philippine Emergency Sanitation Reference Book intended for publication and distribution.

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Progress on sanitation and drinking-water 2010 update

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