TACLOBAN CITY – The local government unit (LGU) of Paranas in Samar, under the leadership of Mayor Eunice Babalcon, distributed materials under its ‘Kasilyas Program’ to 15 households in Barangay Pequit.
Launched in 2015, the Kasilyas Program aims to assist families in building sanitary toilets by providing essential construction materials.
Each beneficiary received 10 bags of cement, a toilet bowl, sand and gravel, steel bars, plywood, assorted nails, P-pipes, elbow pipes, and hollow blocks.
Beneficiaries were selected and validated two weeks before the turnover ceremony, with recommendations coming directly from the barangay to ensure aid reaches those most in need.
The construction process will be closely monitored by the Special Program Group (SPG) and barangay sanitation officers. Beneficiaries are expected to complete their toilets within 10 days to maximize the resources provided.
The Kasilyas Program aligns with the municipality’s zero open defecation (ZOD) ordinance, which mandates all households have proper sanitation facilities. This initiative underscores the LGU’s commitment to promoting health and sustainable development across the municipality.
Municipal sanitary inspector Joey Silawan shared that all 44 barangays in Paranas have been certified as ZOD G1, a significant milestone recognized by the Provincial Health Office, Unicef, and the Department of Health (DOH) Region 8 in November 2021.
Of the municipality’s 7,766 households, 7,394 have their own toilets, while the remaining families share facilities with relatives.
This latest turnover of the Kasilyas Program reaffirms Paranas LGU’s dedication to improving sanitation and ensuring all residents have access to basic health facilities.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
