DOH launches ‘floating sanitary toliets’ in Pangasinan

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Dagupan City (27 August) — The Center for Health Development of the Department of Health in the region launched today an innovative approach to address the perennial problem of diarrheal outbreaks in the province.

The ‘floating sanitary toilets’ (FST), a’brainchild’ of CHD engineers and the first in the country, was put to test as far as to its practicability, strength and usefulness during the project launch and turn over ceremony in barangay Luciente I in Bolinao town.

DOH-CHD Regional Director Eduardo Janairo described the FST as a low cost pour-flush sanitation facility which floats on water.

Its structure and waste treatment materials are made of locally available indigenous materials such as bamboo, nipa, sawali, used plastic drums, sea corals or river gravel/stones, charcoal and garden soil, he explained.

Dr. Paulyn Ubial, assistant health secretary said FST was conceptualized in response to the challenge of preventing the contamination of the different bodies of water with e. coli, vibrio cholera and other micro-organisms causing severe diarrheal diseases and outbreaks. (PIA-Pangasinan)