Council approves Binaliw toilet ordinance

CEBU, Philippines -  The Cebu City Council yesterday upheld the legality of the ordinance in barangay Binaliw that declared illegal the absence of a toilet in the household and impose penalties thereof.

   The council gave the go signal to the barangay officials to implement the ordinance after the mandatory 15-day posting to serve notice to the residents. The council’s approval would mean that each household in Binaliw shall have its own toilet to avoid being penalized.

 The ordinance provides a fine of at least P500 but not more than P1,000 for those who are found violating it.

Councilor Edgardo Labella, chairman of the committee on laws and ordinances, said every local government unit is empowered to enact measures, especially to address sanitation problems.

Binaliw barangay captain Wilson Bacor is worried that the absence of toilets in many households in the barangay will affect the health of the public considering that human wastes are just disposed anywhere in the rivers and forests that may contaminate their source of potable water.

   Bacor said most of the households in their barangay do not have toilets forcing its occupants to just dispose their wastes anywhere such as in creeks and forested areas which poses great danger to public health.

   According to Bacor, it is now time to compel their constituents to have toilets to promote safe and healthy environment. He said that it is upon them, barangay officials, to solve this problem.

Health officials said that improper human waste disposal may cause diarrhea outbreak if potable water source is contaminated.