Binaliw houses without toilets to be penalized

CEBU, Philippines - The officials of Binaliw in Cebu City now want to impose fines as penalties to any of their constituents who do not have toilets in their respective households as one way of encouraging sanitation in their barangay.

Binaliw barangay captain Wilson Bacor said it was agreed by the Barangay Council that those who violate their ordinance would be slapped with fine ranging from P500 to P1,000. But under the law, such ordinance cannot be implemented yet until after it will be approved by the City Council.

The Binaliw barangay officials said that most of the households in their barangay do not have toilets and that occupants just dispose of human excreta/feces into creeks, in forested areas and just anywhere, which poses great danger to health.

Bacor said it is now the time that they will compel their constituents to have toilets in their households to promote healthy and safe environment, and village officials should take a firm stand against those who will continue their practice of improper disposal of human wastes.

Further, residents who continue to dispose of their human wastes outside of their toilets or those who allow children to defecate anywhere will also be apprehended and slapped with fines.

If the ordinance would be approved, the members of the barangay’s committee on health and sanitation will be tasked to strictly monitor its implementation.

The City Health Department had already come up with a report stating that households without toilets are not only singular to Binaliw, as there are other barangays in Cebu City, including those in the city’s urban barangays, that have poor sanitation practices.

Health officials explained that the improper disposal of human wastes may cause a diarrhea outbreak, specifically if the source of potable water gets contaminated. — Rene U. Borromeo/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)