Former senator and Environment and Natural Resources secretary Heherson T. Alvarez yesterday called attention to the need to beef up the country’s sanitation systems after health officials suspect a possible contamination of sources of potable drinking water that has led to a series of outbreaks of water-borne diseases in some parts of the country.
As the nation joins the international community in the observance of World Water Day on March 22 and the 2008 International Year of Sanitation, Alvarez pointed out a pattern of water contamination in Calamba, Laguna and in Eastern Visayas, and the urgent need to address them.
About 2,000 residents have been stricken with typhoid fever in Calamba since last week.
Tests conducted by health officials showed that the water supplied by the local water district contained salmonella bacteria and did not have enough chlorine to kill microbes.
Meanwhile, officials also suspect that flood waters from continuous heavy rains have contaminated water sources in Eastern Visayas since March 7, with at least 110 residents coming down with typhoid fever.
"Water-borne diseases are caused by lack of sanitation, untreated pipe water, and intrusion of polluted water into shallow aquifers and groundwater sources. Improvements must be made in health infrastructure, such as more basic sanitation facilities, and expand water resource development to prevent health risks from water pollution," Alvarez stressed.
A Philippine Environment Monitor report states that water-borne diseases, poor sanitation conditions and poor hygiene practices account for one-sixth of all deaths in the Philippines and about 6,000 premature deaths per year.
"Already, we have over 27 million Filipinos who do not have access to basic sanitation and another 13 million do not have proper water resources. Now, we have water-related disease outbreaks that contribute to this sanitation problem because of water contamination," Alvarez said, citing a World Bank study.
According to the Department of Health (DoH), diarrhea is the most common waterborne disease, followed by intestinal worms, typhoid, and cholera.
Due to water pollution, costs of treatment and lost income amounted to P6.7 billion in 2006 alone.
"Health and environment department should also provide useful and easy-to-access information on different methods of sanitation. Aside from government support, public information is key to combating water-borne diseases," added Alvarez, who is now chairman of the Philippine Mining Development Corp. (PMDC).
Meanwhile, Alvarez called on the general public to "fast for Mother Earth" during the Lenten season, urging Filipinos to minimize the use of energy, electricity, vehicle fuel, water, food, and other resources.
"Reduction in the use of air conditioners, motor vehicles and electricity — such as the use of energysaving bulbs — could be an act of penitence, which would mean less emission from our power plants and less carbon dioxide from our vehicles," he said.
"During Lenten season, as we pause to reflect on our sins, I urge everyone to also fast for the environment by reducing our wasteful consumption, not only of food but also of water, electric power, gasoline and other resources — especially during holidays when families gather together — because this puts a strain on our resources," Alvarez added.
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