In line with its sanitation program, the local RHU staff visited various barangays for the validation and certification of the Zero Open Defecation status of the Municipality of Binalonan.

Zer Open Defecation, a community-led sanitation program, urges households in the Philippines to own and use toilets for health, safety and convenience.

Led by Municipal Health Officer Dr. Framila C. Dela Cruz, together with acting Sanitary Inspector Michelle A. Soriano, DOH Representative/District Medical Officer IV Cathrine F. Nalupa, RHU Nurse II Joanne R. Patacsil, and other RHU staff, visited Camangaan, Santiago, Tabuyoc, Pasileng Norte, San Pablo, and San Felipe Central.

Based on the ZOD Verification Form accomplished by 20 percent of the households and verified by the Municipal Verification Team, the six (6) barangays were declared ZOD barangays.

To achieve wider participation to address sanitation problems, Binalonan Mayor Ramon V. Guico III created a team for the Certification of Barangays with Zero Open Defecation Program. The team composed of Mayor Ramon Guico III as Chairman, and Dr. Framila Dela Cruz as Vice Chairman.

Members are Councilor and SB Committee on Health Chairman Josephine Caburnay, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officer Engineer Clarissa Cabacang, Municipal Engineer Christopher Dela Cruz, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator Engineer Elizabeth Aquino, District Sanitarian Natalion Agustin Jr., Michelle Soriano, and Cathrine Nalupa.

Meanwhile, the Technical Working Group whose functions are to disseminate information to barangays regarding the program and to evaluate the barangays is composed of Dela Cruz, Nalupa, Patacsil, Soriano, NDP Team Leader Lily Diane Jover, and BHW President Angela Bufete.

According to statistics, 31% of rural communities in the Philippines still practice open defecation.