About 47,199 households in Iloilo have no access to sanitary toilets, according to the Iloilo Provincial Population Office (PPO) based on its household survey result as of March 2011.

PPO head Ramon Yee said that based on the number, 7,394 households have no toilets while 39,809 households have unsanitary toilets like the open pit.

He said the figure was taken out of 153,328 total households in 18 municipalities in the province that were assessed by their Barangay Service Point Officers (BSPOs) last year.

Among the towns, Carles topped with 6,270 households followed by Lambunao, 6,034; Janiuay, 5,062; Balasan, 4,762; Concepcion, 3,011; Dueñas, 2,737; Maasin, 2,641; Pototan, 2,508; Cabatuan, 2,326; Banate, 1,876; Anilao, 1,848; Dumangas, 1,837; Badiangan, 1,753; San Enrique, 1,501; Bingawan, 1,303; Mina, 744; San Miguel, 607; and Guimbal, 377.

Yee said the assessment of the remaining 24 towns is ongoing and the figure will be completed before the year ends.

Meanwhile, the Iloilo Provincial Government has already allocated a budget of P 5 million to purchase toilet bowls before the year ends. It will benefit 8,000 households.

Gov. Arthur Defensor, Sr. said he hopes this project will materialize because without sanitary toilets, Ilonggos will be exposed to various diseases.

He said, like potable water, a sanitary toilet is essential.

Earlier this month, the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and World Health Organization (WHO) said about 26 million Filipinos have no access to toilets and most of these are the poor.*