Bouncing Back

It's almost a month after that Sendong tragedy struck our city. Survivors are now bouncing back, and living life as normally as possible. Some manage to go back to their workplaces and do what's best to survive further. Some even went back to their houses and lived lives as if nothing has happened. While for others, whose houses are no longer livable, have moved to a new house, in a new environment. Some have even managed to go shopping already. Buying new clothes, necklaces with titanium pendants, shoes, bags, or whatever they fancy. On the other hand, majority of the TS Sendong victims are still at the evacuation centers and some of them have slowly been relocated to the tent City in Canitoan.

Sadly, there were those who have not really been relocated that chose to end their lives like Roy Navarro for  instance, who committed suicide after learning that he and his family were not included in the list for evacuees to be relocated. It would have been comforting if someone briefed the evacuees prior to the start of relocation.

As for my family, I am happy that everyone's bouncing back. Adults now back to work, and kids back to school. Somehow, we are now able to see a brighter future ahead.. I hope everyone does too.

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to help solve sanitation problems in evacuation centers

One of the major concerns at the evacuation centers as well as at the relocation site for Sendong victims, is sanitation and a place where evacuees can move their wastes.. So here is a $700 portable...  or what's inside it..

I remember last week I reposted on my wall at Facebook about the ecosan, and I am so happy that it caught a reader's attention, and to that effect, a donor.. Thank you Roa-Hammond Family... I am actually reposting it here for a wider reach...

TO THOSE WHO STILL WANT TO DONATE: Here's one good cause to help solve sanitation problems in evacuation centers. Elmer Sayre, XU Aggie Alumni and head of an NGO (Water, Agroforestry, Nutrition and Development Foundation, Inc), have started building portable toilets for Macasandig and West City Central. So far, a total of 15 toilets have been built and now operational have stopped open defecation. Other evacuation centers are clamoring for more, but the NGO's funds is running out. The NGO is calling out for donations for this cause. For every donated portable toilet (P8000), the NGO will match it 100%. If you are interested in helping CDO's sanitation, here's the contact details:

CONTACT PERSON: Elmer Sayre
PHONE: 09218041573
EMAIL ADDRESS: elmer2222001@yahoo.com

WEBSITES:http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/health-sanitation-and-food-security-for-3000-filipinos/ and http://www.wandphilsorg.com/

Anyway, I have read about the project of Mr. Elmer Sayre, and I am happy to find that his ecosan is even much better than the $700 portable shown above. The ecosan is actually good for the environment. The toilets can be placed anywhere, as it is easy to transport, easy to use, does not need water and best of all,  recycle human waste to fertilizer.... It may be simple looking, but it is what we need at this time. It's cheaper too. If one donates at the cost of P 8,000, WAND Foundation will match it 100%, meaning, you get two ecosan toilets installed. One toilet including 2 weeks supply of toilet paper, soap, and all others cost about 186 USD. Please contact elmer2222001@yahoo.com should you wish to donate.

Here are single vault ecosan with EcoPee urinals at the side... Transporting pre-fabricated ecosan units  is easy, and four can actually fit in a lory.

In case you are wondering how waste is taken from the units, the feces container is actually rattan basket which is lined with heavy duty sack, and a garbage bag. 

Since the problem here in Cagayan de Oro City, after Sendong is water, the ecosan toilets can really help minimize water and sanitation problems. I hope many more agencies and organizations will help provide potable waterless toilets like the ecosan units in the many evacuation centers in the city..

Oh and I should like to point out that this great idea came from an Internationally multi-awarded Filipino named Elmer Sayre from Initao, Misamis Oriental.. Proudly Filipino and a Mindanaoan... (Photo credit goes to him as well, as I have simply borrowed the three images from his FB account.)

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