2019

This is an Entry to the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards

Title

Zero on the Go: Zero Open Defecation Program of Tubod

Organization

LGU Tubod, Surigao del Norte

Best practice Focus Area(s)

Innovation Leadership, Citizen-centered Services

Year Implemented

2017

Summary

Tubod is the first Zero Open Defecation (ZOD) in Caraga Region. Zod is a Department of Health initiated program. It is considered as one of the best practices because it replaced the traditional approach of passing feces outside a toilet. It started last 2017.

Background and Problem

ZOD aims to motivate the people to abandon their old practice for open defecation and reduce the schistosomiasis cases and the snail colony’s positive area. The program encountered problems such as poverty and traditional practices.

Solution and Impact

The municipality conducted Community-Led Total Sanitation (CLTS) where the community members are encouraged to do their own sanitation situation analysis. CLTS empowers communities to make decisions and actions in improving sanitation especially the value of their own sanitary toilet. It internalized the open defecation on public health and on the entire neighborhood environment. CLTS takes place without hardware being provided or finances.

Milestones

Municipality of Tubod was awarded by the DOH for achieving 100% of the Nine (9) Barangays with Zero Open Defecation Status and received cash worth P5,000.00/ barangay with Plague.