An evaluation study on the use of the collective approach towards overcoming open defecation: A research

• Main Author: Agulan, Katrina Chye V.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2017
• Subjects: Sanitary engineering > Philippines; Community development > Philippines; Rural development > Philippines; Public health > Philippines
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/5366
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a community-led approach used to end open defecation through a collective action. A number of communities in the Philippines were triggered to participate in the community-led approach, two of which were included in this study Barangay Malubi in Aroroy and Barangay West Poblacion in Milagros, both in the Province of Masbate, which resulted to a number of them being certified to have attained the Zero-Open Defecation Free status. This approach has been promoted by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Program experts globally and has proved effective in ensuring that communities could attain zero open defecation as a pre-requisite to total sanitation. The study looks at how the approach could engage the community members to participate in solving their problem in sanitation. Although there may be existing policies or guidance to attain total sanitation, the study looks at the factors to overcome open defecation as a collective action problem which will eventually influence development policies. The effectiveness of the approach to overcome the collective action problem of open defecation could be attributed to the conditions enumerated by Ostrom for long enduring design principles, posing possibilities and challenges in ending open defecation.