Bacolod City – A resolution requesting Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez to implement City Ordinance No. 995, series of 2022, or an Ordinance establishing the zero open defecation verification and certification team as supplement to C.O. No 881.
The resolution authored by Councilor Claudio Puentevella said Section 15 of Article ll of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.
It said Section 2 of C.O. No. 995 provides for the creation of the ZOD Assessment Team and Section 3 provides for the duties and responsibilities of the team which will be composed of the following: City Mayor as chairman, Vice Mayor – deputy chairman, Bacolod City Health Officer, Sangguniang Panlungsod chairman of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, Liga nga mga Barangay president, CMO- Department of Public Services, City Legal Officer, sanitary inspector, Barangay Health Workers president, Department of Health representative, Department of Agriculture, City Veterinary Office, and three members to be appointed by the Mayor.
Adopting zero open defecation in every barangay aims to encourage every household that practices open defecation to adopt this sanitary practice to prevent sickness, improve their quality of life and well-being, and improve the sanitary condition of the community as a whole, the resolution added. (Chrysee Semillano via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of Skyscrapercity Facebook account)