Wao town first to achieve zero defecation status in Lanao del Sur

MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)--Through its continuous campaign for hygienic practices and safer toilets for Lanao del Sur residents, the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO) here declared the municipality of Wao as the first town to achieve the Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) status in the province.

The said ZOD accomplishment was announced by the IPHO team during the 4th quarter Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting, on December 14.

Wao has 26 barangays of which 13 were certified ZOD in 2019 and the remaining 13 achieved ZOD status this year.

As such, IPHO Chief Dr. Alinader Minalang lauded the Wao municipal government on their commitment to preserve and promote the importance of sanitation for their health and wellness within their locality.

The ZOD status means that all households have abandoned the practice of open defecation and are using either their own or other’s sanitary toilet facilities. 

Under the ZOD campaign, the Department of Health targets all barangays across the country to achieve ZOD status by 2025.

In Lanao del Sur, only 4.7% or 50 barangays are ZOD certified as of December 12, 2022. 

With the low ZOD accomplishment, the IPHO is urging municipal local government units (MLGUs) in the province to create policies on sustainable sanitation. The IPHO also called on the provincial government to issue a memorandum to MLGUs to fast-track the ZODP implementation by creating their ZOD municipal verification team. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)