Sanitation Situation of the

Philippines
Presented by:
Aleli P. Sudiacal, MD, MPH
National Center for Disease Prevention and
Control
Department of Health
“We shall not finally defeat AIDS, Tuberculosis,
Malaria
or any other infectious diseases that plague
the developing world until
we have also won the battle for
safe drinking water, sanitation and basic health
care.”

- Kofi Annan
 Millennium Development
Goal
•• MDG
MDG ## 77 Target
Target 11
11 -- Halving
Halving the
the
proportion
proportion of
of people
people without
without access
access to
to
improved
improved sanitation.
sanitation.
 Health Impact
• 1.8 M people die from diarrheal diseases
• 1 B people suffer from Soil-Transmitted
Helminthiasis
• 1.5 M deaths in the 0 – 5 y.o. age group every
year of 5,000 child deaths/day
• Diarrheal cases still in the top 10 leading causes of
morbidity for 20 years
 Sanitation
• Is the hygienic means of preventing
human contact from the hazards of
wastes to promote health.
• Hygienic means of prevention
- Personal hygiene practices
- Latrines and septic tanks
- Sewerage and wastewater
technologies
 Sanitation Coverage
Type of Sanitation Urban Rural Total
Facility
Flush Toilet, own 76.7 53.6 65.7
Flush Toilet, shared 15.9 10.7 13.4
Closed Pit 1.5 10.7 5.9
Open Pit 0.8 6.8 3.7
Drop/Overhang 1.1 2.8 1.9
No toilet 3.9 15.4 9.3
Other 0.1 0.1 0.1
Total 100 100 100

Source: National Demographic and Health Survey, 2003

Majority of the existing septic tanks were poorly constructed.

Top Ten Provinces with lowest
Sanitation Coverage
Province Rate
1. Sulu 10.9
2. Basilan 22.4
3. Lanao del Sur 35.0
4. Marinduque 35.4
5. Masbate 44.5
6. Zamboanga 45.7
Sibugay
7. Maguindanao 45.9
8. Lanao del Norte 48.2
9. Pampanga 50.0
FHSIS, 2006
10. Nueva Ecija 50.1
 PHILIPPINES SANITARY TOILET COVERAGE
PER PROVINCE, C.Y. 2006
LEGEND:
Less than 50 %

50-73%
(< National AVE.)

74 % and more
(> National AVE.)
 Population Growth and Sewerage
Services POPULATION GROWTH AND SEWERAGE SERVICES POPULATION
COVERAGE

80
National Population (NSO) 73
70 65
POPULATION (MILLION)

Service Area Population

61
Coverage
60
54
50 48
42
40 37

30

20

10 5 5 5 5
1 3
0
0
1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000
NSO CENSUS YEAR

Source: Philippines Environment Monitor 2003. World Bank

Cities with Sewerage System: Metro Manila, Baguio City,

Ilocos Norte, Zamboanga City and Cebu City
Annual losses OVERALL
due to poor
sanitation ECONOMIC LOSSES
–US$1.4 billion $ 1 ,0 1 1 .2 0
1 ,2 0 0 .0 0

–Php 77.8 billion 1 ,0 0 0 .0 0

–1.5% of GDP
8 0 0 .0 0

$ 3 2 3 .4 0
6 0 0 .0 0

–Php 924 per capita 4 0 0 .0 0

$ 4 0 .1 0 $ 3 7 .5 0

2 0 0 .0 0

0 .0 0
H e a lth W a te r To urism O the r W e lfa re

Source: Economic Impact of Sanitation

in the Philippines
What are the challenges?
 Investments on Sanitation
and Sewerage for the Past
Years
Annual Average Investment on Water Supply versus
Sanitation and Sewerage
Php
43,749.95/yr.
(97%)

Php
1,505.82/yr.
(3%)

Source: Philippines Environment Monitor 2003, World Bank

 Challenges
• Consumers’ willingness to pay

• Poor enforcement of laws

• Poor access to innovative solutions

• Lack of demand for sanitation

services
FOURMULA ONE FOR HEALTH:
Implementation Framework for Health
Sector Reform
Program Strategies/Activities -
1

1. Policy and Regulatory component

a. Develop models of regulation
b. Create policies that favor
innovation in technology
Program Strategies/Activities -
2

2. Governance component
a. Create/identify capable
bodies
b. Employ sector-wide
approach
Program Strategies/Activities -
3

3. Service delivery component

a. Develop and disseminate
alternative options
b. Create awareness and
demand
c. Create synergies
Program Strategies/Activities -
4
4. Financing component
a. Encourage public-private
partnerships
b. Explore complementary
alternative financing
options e.g. user fees
Sanitation and hygiene are challenges
that will not go away overnight. Real
progress requires concerted efforts
from all actors. And for us to realize
achieving our sanitation goals and
targets means we have to act now.