Villar partners with government agencies to improve sanitation, income of Baseco families

Sen. Cynthia A. Villar on Thursday moved to address hygiene and sanitary problems in the Baseco compound in Manila as she joined numerous government agencies in the launching of the Toilet Bowls for Baseco Residents project.

Aside from improved health conditions, Villar likewise sought to boost income generation among the residents during the introduction of the Coconet Weaving Livelihood project and composting facility.

The livelihood project aims to guide the residents how to make income out of coconet weaving and to have free organic fertilizer for their urban gardening.

The two projects were launched in Gasangan Street in Baseco, Bgy. 649 in Manila.

Villar linked up with the Department of Health, among other agencies, to teach an estimated 500 residents the value of proper hygiene and to encourage them to construct clean and safe sanitation facilities.

Villar stressed residents should stop their practice of defecating in open or public places, which, she pointed out, has been the primary cause of serious health and sanitation problems in the area.

'The root cause of diseases is a dirty environment. And if residents are openly defecating anywhere, all kinds of illnesses could affect all of them, especially the children. I am confident that if the families are given toilet bowls, then this gross practice of open defecation will stop, ' Villar said.

The lady senator also noted that poor sanitation has caused the contamination of water sources and spiked incidences of deadly water-borne diseases like diarrhea, cholera and typhoid fever and illnesses such as intestinal worm infection and malnutrition.

Also during her visit to the Baseco compound, Villar also spearheaded a clean-up drive and mangrove planting in nearby esteros.

Aside from the DOH, other partner agencies for the Baseco projects are the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, CAVITEX, Kabalikat sa Kaunlaran, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission.