DILG sets advocacy trainings on water sanitation governance in Region 9

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, Nov. 1 (PNA) -- The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to conduct series of advocacy training on Human Rights-Based Local Water Sanitation (WATSAN) Governance here in Region IX.

DILG Regional Director Paisal Abutazil said the training will be held in two batches through the Project Development and Monitoring Unit (PDMU) in this city.

Abutazil said the first batch undergo training from November 4-7 and will comprise of 60 municipal government officials from the provinces of Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay.

Abutazil said the first batch of officials to undergo training are from the towns of Bacungan, Baliguian, Manukan, Roxas, Tampilisan and Sergio Osmeña, Zamboanga del Norte; and, Mabuhay, Malangas, Naga, Olutanga and Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay.

He said the second batch includes 55 municipal government officials from the province of Zamboanga del Sur as well as from Isabela City, Basilan’s capital that will undergo training from November 11-14.

Those from the province of Zamboanga del Sur will come from the towns of Aurora, Dinas, Dumalinao, Kumalarang, Labangan, Mahayag, Margosatubig, Molave, Sominot, Tabina, Tambulig and Tukuran.

The officials would include the Mayor or the Sangguniang Bayan Member on Appropriation, the City/municipal engineer, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, and Municipal Local Government Operations Officers.

Abutazil said that the advocacy training is primarily aimed to orient and train the participants and gain appreciation to human rights–based approach on WATSAN governance.

Abutazil said the training also aims to help the participants in the formulation of strategic communication plan for sustainable WATSAN service delivery of the recipient municipalities.

He emphasized that the provision of water supply and sanitation services are one of the very basic needs of the people, thus, with the declaration of WATSAN as human rights, this put the people at the center of development.

“In region 9, implemented water projects covered 35 LGUs in 2013 under the Bottom Up Budgeting and another 45 LGUs this year. By this transition, the government is also fulfilling the right to water and sanitation of the people with this new development” he said.

He added that the DILG is committed to integrate and mainstream the human-rights based approach in the capacity development programs intended for the participating municipalities under Sagana at Ligtas na Tubig (SALINTUBIG) and Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Process (GPBP) program.(PNA)
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