Couple builds communal toilets in far-flung sitios

CEBU, Philippines —  In this day and age, there are still some Cebuano communities that do not have proper comfort rooms.

This prompted a Cebuano couple, Tony and Alfie Galon, to initiate “Project Toilet.”

The Galons actually have long been environmental advocates and have initiated the “5-pieces daily habit, basura run, tumbler of hope and a blood donor athlete advocate.”

The COVID-19 pandemic may have stopped most of the activities that the Galons initiated, but it did not stop them from finding something else worthwhile.

While enjoying trekking and camping, the Galons came to visit some of the sitios away from the town proper and mingle with the community.

It also made them see how some communities do not seem to care about the cleanliness in their surroundings that they thought of something to keep the locals look after cleanliness and sanitation and that paved the way for “Project Toilet.”

The pilot areas for the project are Sitio Butong in Naga City and Sitio Paginpinon in Minglanilla town.

“Una namong adto aning mga dapita, hugaw, walay paki mga tawo ba, maong kahuna-huna mi unsaon kaha ni sila sah nga ma-encourage namo sila nga manghinlo sa ilang palibot? Dili maghugaw-hugaw? Then pagkahibalo namo na wala ni silay mga kasilyas sukad-sukad, mao to nga nakaingon mi nga sige, mangita mig sponsors para buhat ug C.R. nya in return manghinlo sila, dili sila magsinagbot na,” said Tony Galon to The Freeman.

Galon also recalled a time when his wife, Alfie, needed to go to a comfort room but couldn’t find any.

They are hoping that as more toilets built in the far-flung communities, even tourists can use it when needed.

Along the way, the Galons found out that many of them have not had any toilets since the time of their grandparents.

“Three generations, walay toilet, maski asa lang sila malibang. Gipangutana pa kos mga bata kung naa ba pud daw mi C.R sa amoa, naa puy niingon, di sila sure kung makabalo ba daw sila mogamit og C.R. unya,” shared Galon.

Since their resources are limited, the Galons decided to build a communal toilet with at least four families each sharing it and taking responsibility for it.

The families built the structure with Tony’s supervision while materials used are mostly donations from friends and other concerned individuals who learned about their latest project.

Aside from building toilets, Alfie, a teacher and volleyball coach, also educates the community on some healthy habits and the importance and benefits of having a proper toilet and clean and safe environment as well as teach the kids volleyball for health, fitness and recreation.

As of this writing, Galon said, there are also 10 toilets being built at the selected sitios in Minglanilla and Naga.

Galon said they are also concerned for the young girls’ safety that a proper toilet is really needed, especially as more individuals outside their community come and visit in those areas.

Should there be more individuals and companies that wishes to sponsor their projects, the Galons are more than willing to find more communities that also need toilets. — GMR (FREEMAN)