Typhoon “Sendong”, considered as the world’s deadliest storm for 2011 brought more than a month of average rainfall within 12 hours to Northern Mindanao, Visayas and Palawan.  Hardly hit are the southern coastal cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.  Unaccustomed to major storms, river systems and homes specifically in these two cities were massively destroyed.  Raging waters have killed thousands and hundreds more are missing.  Most of the dead were women and children. (PRWEB)

The tragic devastation displaced thousands of people who also lost their homes and are left with no other option but to settle temporarily in public evacuation centers.

While different International, National and local agencies are active with the distribution of food, water, medicine, blankets, body bags, tents and etc., they somehow overlooked the need for basic sanitation facilities – toilets.

In circumstances where water is scarce, appropriate sanitation solutions have to be provided.  Together with the STEAG State Power, the Xavier University Sustainable Sanitation Center provided Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilets (UDDTs) to one of the evacuation centers in Cagayan de Oro City. The center, as the toilet and technology provider took charge of the toilet operation and maintenance through daily monitoring while STEAG distributed fly ash for foul smell control, drums for urine containers, and black bags for fecal material and even the toiletries needed for toilet maintenance (ie., alcohol, face masks, tissues and hand gloves).  Selected evacuees who volunteered were tasked to maintain the cleanliness of the toilets.  They were provided with “cash for work” on a daily basis by STEAG on the first two weeks and later on by XU and then DSWD for other areas.

These activities soon after encouraged other active partners to take part in providing safe sanitation and hygiene to the survivors in the evacuation centers.  WAND Foundation in partnership with many other donor agencies added the construction of more UDD Toilets to many other evacuation sites. To date, XU SuSan center and WAND Foundation is already monitoring the operation and maintenance of 30 UDDTs in different evacuation areas.

Due to high demand for sanitation facilities, Xavier University also constructed pit latrines to low level ground water evacuation centers. The Cebu City government through DOH also lends 20 portable toilets and the center was tasked to deploy it to the different evacuation sites.

The Sustainable Sanitation and Health Development Program - a convergence project of Barangay Lumbia and Xavier University, is finally launched last September 14, 2011.  It is at this point in time, where all members of the Technical Working Group commit themselves to contribute their respective expertise and responsibilities to the barangay of Lumbia.

Among the representatives from XU Technical Working Group (TWG) who were there were Dr. Hilly Ann Roa Quiaoit - VP for Research and Social Outreach, Dr. Ramona Heidi Palad - Dean from College of Nursing, Dr.  Virginia Lourdes Yacapin - Dean, School of Business and Management, Dr. Gina Itchon - Coordinator, DPCM - RU of the College of Medicine, Dr. Dixon Q. Yasay - Dean from Governance and Leadership Institute, Engr. Roel Ravanera, Dean - from the College of Agriculture, Engr. Eliseo Linog Jr. - Dean from the College of Engineering, Engr. Dexter Lo - Head of the Engineering Resource Center, Ms. Edwina Luis Gonzales - Director of National Service Training Program, and Ms. Analiza Miso, Director of the Sustainable Sanitation Center.

Representatives from the Barangay of Lumbia was headed by Hon. Wilhelm Valencia - Barangay Captain and assisted by the chairman on the Committee on Health, Hon. Rosendo T. Oculares. Mr. Archie Alamban from PEACE project heads the youth repersentatives while the Peoples' Organization cooperative was headed by Ms. Wendelyn Sumaya.

The activity had been highlighted with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the members of the TWG who represents the different sectors involved in the project.

Manresa Days is an annual festival of the Xavier University College of Agriculture (XUCA). Manresa Farm is usually full with activities. All the units and departments in XUCA including their students are conducting different kinds of activities in the farm. Selling different stuffs, conducting seminars to farmers and giving variety shows are only some of the common events. Agricultural companies also use this opportunity to showcase their products. Families, friends, guests and XUCA alumni are normally visiting Manresa during this 3-day festival. One of the big highlights is the Rodeo competition where aggie students from different universities mostly in Mindanao come and participate.

The availability of toilets is normally a problem during the festival especially at the rodeo area. People (particularly men) simply just urinate at any corner. This makes the surrounding very unhygienic. It is also a difficulty for guests who are having children who need to go to toilets. Unhygienic surrounding usually brings illnesses to people. This practice must be stopped and corrected.

The Sustainable Sanitation (SuSan) Center of XU provided 2 types of toilets at the rodeo area. Urine Diversion toilet for women and an improvised urinal for men were constructed. This is done to address the problem of open urination (and defecation). This is also a way of advocating proper hygiene and sanitation.

The Xavier University Sustainable Sanitation Center is very pleased to have a new director in the person of Ms. Analiza Miso. She officially takes over all SUSAN Center related matters and university functions which was handled by the former director, Mr. Robert Gensch.

The center had been in deep gratitude to the former director, for helping establish such a thriving center, which in one way or another, had made Cagayan de Oro one of those important little dots on the national and even international sustainable sanitation map.

XU SuSan Center will still continue to strive for her commitment towards a more sustainable development with collaboration and joint learning strategies with other target partners. With the support of colleagues, friends, national and international partners, the center will be able to face and overcome more challenges and realize the vision on holistic convergence for sustainable sanitation and health development.

For inquiries and assistance, the center can be reached thru:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .