“Accelerating Progress Towards Sustainable Sanitation” is the topic for Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010, 6:30 p.m. (Manila time) on Kalikasan, Kaunlaran! (KK!) Talk Show on DZRH-AM radio (666 in Metro Manila, other kHz nationwide), TV (Ch. 9 in Metro Manila, other cable TV channels nationwide), and on the Internet at http://dzrh.prepys.com or http://dzrh.tripod.com.

S anitation is a topic that not many are interested in—especially at dinner time. But poor sanitation, as well as hygiene, causes acute gastro enteritis, the second leading cause of morbidity in both urban poor and rural communities in the Philippines. The Philippine Clean Water Act has been passed to address sanitation and the broader issue of water pollution, but the government has not taken significant steps towards providing funds for the purpose. Local governments and service providers have little experience and capacity to provide cost-effective solutions. 

The only consoling thought is that the Philippines is not alone with this problem.  In the East-Asian region alone, more than 800-million people do not have access to sustainable sanitation. Recognizing this challenge, Ministers in charge of sanitation in the East Asian region are meeting on Jan 27-29, 2010, in Manila on the theme “Building Regional Cooperation to Accelerate Progress towards Sustainable Sanitation.”

This conference, which will also involve some international delegates, follows the first EASAN (East Asia Ministerial Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene) that was held in Japan in 2007. In addition to reviewing what have been done since 2007, the EASAN 2 next week aims to accelerate national action for reaching the Millennium Development Goal on sanitation through effective policies, programs and partnerships. It also aims to increase political awareness of sanitation and hygiene, share best practices in the region, and increase regional cooperation among EA countries.

To hear more about the conference and what it is expected to produce, tune in or watch Kalikasan, Kaunlaran! (KK!), on Jan 20, 2010, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (Manila time), as Dr. Cora Claudio, president, EARTH Institute Asia, Inc. converses with Dr. Olivia Castillo, UN Secretary General Advisory Board Member on Water and Sanitation and chair/president, Asia-Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production; Joselito Riego de Dios, Department of Health, and Head of the EASAN 2 Conference Technical Secretariat; and Rory Villaluna, executive secretary, Stream of Knowledge and member of the Conference Technical Secretariat.

KK! Is accessible through DZRH-AM radio (666 in Metro Manila, other kHz nationwide), TV (Ch. 9 in Metro Manila, other cable TV channels nationwide), and on the Internet at  http://dzrh.prepys.com or (http://dzrh.tripod.com. Join the Quiz, contests, campaigns and projects of EARTH and KK! To join all, register at 2299: earth<space>your message. 

EARTH Institute Asia and  DZRH co-produce KK!, with the support of Unilever, Unilab, Toby's Sports, Yehey.Com, Management Association of the Philippines and Brahma Kumaris and with the cooperation of various organizations—GREEN Army, PFST, TOWNS, PBE, AIJC, PEIA, DENR, MabuhayRadio.com, and  other groups and  individuals.

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