TACLOBAN CITY- The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Cluster have built at least 22,063 toilets in the Visayas region areas affected by super typhoon Yolanda. WASH Cluster, composed of several humanitarian groups, started transitioning from life-saving intervention to early recovery planning and implementation in December 2013.

This included not only to restoration of communal and household level water and sanitation facilities, but also strengthening of governance and resilience at local levels.
As reported in the Philippine humanitarian response site, significant progress is being made in the roll out of the Philippine Approach to Total Sanitation (PHaTS) across Leyte and Eastern Samar.

The 22,063 toilets provided by various groups involving the WASH Cluster, was based on the June 19. However, another 2,579 latrines were constructed benefitting 12,891 people.

There are informal reports of more than 20 barangays across Leyte and Samar are ready to declare themselves a “zero open defecation” barangays.
It is working on the importance of water system infrastructure and water quality. In May, 2,460 people benefited from 12 systems upgrade. A desalination water treatment plant was also commissioned in Tacloban City at Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).

As the pressure to provide long-term durable shelter solutions continues to mount, significant numbers of relocation sites are being developed by local government units and the private sector across Haiyan affected areas without adequate planning to construct WASH facilities. The upcoming rainy season also presents a heighted risk of vector and water borne diseases like dengue fever.

Health has also reported issues with community members unwilling to undertake dengue monitoring and sanitation cleaning activities without payment of cash- for- work.

Significant investment has been directed towards the capacity-building of government staff at all levels. Improvements are evident in some areas.
However, significant efforts are still required before the Cluster can fully transfer their responsibilities to the respected government counterparts. (AIRYLL A.YAPOC, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY – To give updates on the different Department of Health programs, the DOH Representatives in all municipalities in the region conducted their semi-annual meeting at Asia Stars Hotel on June 17-18, 2014.

DOH-Rep advocates the different programs of the department such as Family Planning, Expanded Program for Organizations, Maternal Care, Child and Nutrition, Leprosy Control Program, Tuberculosis Control Program, among others.

Aside from the updates on the various DOH programs, they presented their accomplishments and discussed gaps and issues on problems encountered in the field between local government unit and the DOH.

DOH-Rep point person Lucia Milagros Abantao said that their role in the municipality is that they serve as the conduit or linkage between the DOH and the LGU. (REINALORE P. GUIMBAOLIBOT)

TACLOBAN CITY- The National Maritime Polytechnic (NMP) paid tribute to the seafarers across the region during the celebration of the “Day of Filipino Seafarers” held on June 25.

The theme of this year’s celebration was “Pinoy Seafarers: Proudly moving the world,” a very apt theme considering that more than 35 percent of the world’s seafarers come from the Philippines.

There are over 8,000 seamen from the region which helps Eastern Visayas’ economy through their remittances. The said sector contributes more than $2 billion to the country’s economy.

As part of this year’s celebration, series of activities were lined up by the NMP which included a media conference and a thanksgiving mass held at the Santo Nino Church.
A floral offering, led by the Leyte Chapter president of the Seamen’s Wives Association of the Philippines Inc. (SWAPI), was also held at the NMP office in Barangay Cabalawan, this city.

According to NMP Executive Director Forter Puguon Sr. the occasion aims to increase the awareness of the public on the services rendered by the seafarers and to honor and recognize them. (CARYL TOMANDA, LNU Intern)

TACLOBAN CITY- The members of the Leyte Dance Theatre recently performed at various cities in the United States. But unlike on their previous performances, which center mainly on showcasing the country’s local dances, this time they made their performances to help raise funds for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

And incidentally, almost all of the members of one of the country’s most prestigious dance groups were also victims of Yolanda. This mission of raising funds, needless to say, was achieved, said dance master Jess de Paz, founder of the Leyte Dance Theatre. The group performed in various states of the US from April 11 to June 14.

“All our performances was well-received, (we get) overwhelming response from our audience and that’s precisely why I think most of our members were satisfied and fulfilled. I think they are happy that the Leyte Dance Theatre, being victims of Yolanda was able to go,” de Paz said.

The group had their performances in San Francisco, San Jose, and Anaheim, all in California; Las Vegas, Nevada; San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, and Austin in Texas; Killeen, Beaumont; Virginia Beach; Washington DC; New Jersey; New Haven, Connecticut; Tucson, Arizona; Melbourne and Tampa in Florida; Charlotte, North Carolina and New York. All in all, they held 21 performances and also presented in sideshows at hospitals, nursing homes, and schools, de Paz said. The LDT founder, however, did not mentioned how much they were able to raise during their performances in the US.

During their fund raising, the LDT performed “Diwata ha Buscada,” a story of a diwata or an enchanted woman falling in love with a mortal man; “Mindanao Sketches” which showcase the royalty of the Filipino Muslims; “Dances of Lowlander” (Rural Suite) magnified the festival culture or the fiesta spirit of the Filipinos and “Bayan Ko,” which showcases Filipino’s love for freedom. (REINALORE P. GUIMBAOLIBOT/LNU Intern)