Speech at the 2016 Bangkok Rotary Institute

RI President-elect Ian Risely, RI Director and Institute Convener Saowalak Rattanavich, other Rotarian dignitaries and guests, Good afternoon!

Thank you very much, indeed, for this opportunity to present to you some of the best practices on WATER, SANITATION AND HYGIENE, or WASH service projects in the Philippines.

Just to put things in context, I will begin by quickly walking you through some facts that are probably familiar to many of you already.

WATER IS LIFE! What a truism! But of course, the opposite is likewise true. No water, no life! Put another way, lack of water can lead to loss of life, due to poor sanitation. Unfortunately, poor sanitation is already a crisis of global proportion according to the United Nations World Health Organization. Consider the following statistics:

1.) 2.4 Billion people do not have access to proper sanitation facilities; *1,000 children under the age of 5 years, are killed each day by a toxic mix of unsafe drinking water; *160 Million children suffer from stunting; * Poor sanitation causes adverse pregnancy outcomes, spread of diseases, and impacts on the dignity of women and children.

2.) Southern Asia is home to: *40% of people lacking in sanitation and *67% of people practicing open defecation, of which *60% comes from India alone.

3.) In the Philippines, *74% have improved sanitation, but 8% still practice open defecation. *Diarrhea is the 3rd leading cause of child illness and 4th leading cause of deaths among children under 5 years of age. *Lack of clean water and sanitary facilities kills 55 people everyday!

Aware of these serious health concerns, Filipino Rotarians have been undertaking numerous community service projects focused on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. But much remains to be done.

Last March 18-19, 2016, the Presidential Conference on WASH, one of five Presidential Conferences worldwide, was held in the Philippines, led by then RI President Ravi Ravindran and RI Director Guiller Tumangan. Among the activities conducted during the Conference, was a competition to select the most outstanding WASH projects in Rotary. The Board of Judges were led by the President of World Bank, and the UNICEF Resident Representative. Among the twelve winners that they selected were the projects submitted by three of the most outstanding clubs in our District 3810.

This afternoon, I’m deeply honored to be tasked to present these winning projects.

1.) ROTARY CLUB OF INTRAMUROS

The first winning project was undertaken by the Rotary Club of Intramuros Manila, led by World Class President Cosette Chua. RC Intramuros, chartered on March 1, 1981, has conducted numerous service projects over the years, focused on helping indigent children, providing them with health needs, like medicines, vision screening, and proper nutrition. In the year 2005, the Club launched another flagship project aptly labeled, “HANDOG POSO NG ROTARY”, which roughly translated means, ARTESIAN WELL GIFTS FROM ROTARY. Their foreign partner was the Rotary Club of Batemans, RI District 9710, in New South Wales, Australia.

RC Intramuros and RC Batemans, using club funds and matching grants, have been donating artesian wells to rural public schools and villages, in different regions of our country, as shown in the map onscreen: at the National Capital Region, Calabarzon or Southern Tagalog, Central Luzon and even in Zamboanga Peninsula in Mindanao. Their biggest WASH projects so far, are the following: a.) A solar powered integrated water system for a school for Hearing impaired students at the DEAF School in Laguna, and; b.) A complete water system, with a 2,500 gallon tank, and electric motor pump, for Hansenite patients in the 2,000-bed Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Tala, Caloocan City.

2.) ROTARY CLUB OF PASAY WEST

The second winning entry was submitted by the Rotary Club of Pasay West, led by World Class President Meg Alvero. RC Pasay West, chartered on May 25, 1993, has adopted the indigenous Aetas of Sitio Calapi in Mabalacat, Pampanga, since 2009, providing them with school supplies, medical needs, and other livelihood supports. This WASH project which cost One Million Yen, was undertaken by the Rotary Club of Pasay West in partnership with Rotary International District 2700 in Fukuoka, Japan, and RC of Kurumi. This project provided potable water supply to the 82 Aeta families, composed of more than three hundred adults and children. RC Clark Field, their local partner supervised the project construction.

Water was sourced from a mountain spring one kilometer away from Sitio Calapi. It was pumped using the low cost but effective Ram Pump System to three storage tanks, strategically located in the village to facilitate access by the residents, and one storage tank for the Calapi Negrito Elementary School. Sustainability of the project was assured with the formation of a Rotary Community Corps headed by the Village Chieftain, and the Teacher in charge of the Elementary School. The joy experienced by the young Aetas in being able to bathe with flowing water and shampoo for the first time, was captured by the following short video. (show video for one minute).

3.) ROTARY CLUB OF HIYAS NG MAYNILA

The third winning entry, is this WASH project being undertaken by the Rotary Club of Hiyas Ng Manila, which was chartered on June 24, 1998. Their global partners are the Rotary Club of Gimcheon, Korea, RI District 3650 and RI District 3630. The project was spearheaded by World Class President Blue Yeong Jeong Seok and PP Mari Yuda. Estimated to cost USD175,000, this WASH project will benefit the 2,700 residents in the remote fishing village of Talaotao, Looc, Lubang Island, in the Province of Mindoro. It consists of a complete water system with a four (4) cubic meter concrete water tank, distribution system, a sustainable ecological toilet, and sanitation facilities for the Talaotao Elementary School. The slides show the school children being taught proper hand washing technics, and given books and other learning materials. The local population and authorities are fully supportive of the project. The TRF Cadre also closely monitors its implementation.

However, construction was delayed by a number of typhoons that visited the island during the last two years. Unfortunately, as many as 20 typhoons hit the Philippines every year. Barring any more major fortuitous event, this WASH project is expected to be finished and fully operational by February, 2017!

WASH community service projects will continue to be prioritized by Philippine Rotary Clubs in the years to come, until the problems caused by poor sanitation and lack of clean water supply are greatly minimized if not eliminated. I’m sure you are all as concerned as we are, about this Rotary area of focus.

2019: ROTARY’S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY IN ASIA!

Before closing, please allow me to update you on something of special interest to all of us Asian Rotarians. The Rotary Club of Manila, the first in Asia, will celebrate its Centennial Anniversary on June 1, 1919. This will of course also be the centennial anniversary of the FOUNDING OF ROTARY IN ASIA, which calls for great celebration!

Having been designated Chairman of the RCM Centennial Organizing Committee, may I take the liberty to invite everyone, on behalf of RC Manila, so that TOGETHER, WE ASIAN ROTARIANS CAN CELEBRATE OUR STRUGGLES AND SUCCESSES DURING THE FIRST ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF ROTARY IN ASIA!!!

As was mentioned by RI President Elect Ian Risely in his keynote address last night, ASIA is presently, Rotary’s fastest growing region in the world! This centennial celebration is therefore, a most opportune time for us to also assess and strategically plan, the significant role of Asian Rotarians in SERVING ABOVE SELF AND DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD in the next 100 years!

We will communicate with you and will highly appreciate your cooperation to ensure a most successful centennial celebration!

MABUHAY AT MARAMING SALAMAT PO! Kop Kun Kap!