A workshop entitled "Learning Session on Technology Options for Environmental Management Through Sanitation" will be conducted to present the various technology options to implement effective and practical facilities for local communities around Laguna Lake.

It will be held at the Amang Hall of Rizal Provincial Capitol Compound in Pasig city on March 14, 2007.

This workshop will be jointly undertaken by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and the Federation of River Basin Councils (FRBC) of Laguna de Bay region.

GTZ is a German government agency tasked to implement various bilateral development cooperation programs with the Philippine government.

The Federation of River Basin Councils (FRBC) of Laguna de Bay region is a group of more than 20 river basin councils organized by LLDA (Laguna Lake Development Authority). The composition of river basin councils comes from various sectors of their community.

There are an estimated of 60 participants who are expected to attend this workshop. These participants are mostly municipal health inspectors, municipal planning and development coordinators, and representatives from different river basin councils.

The issue of access of sanitation, particularly access to sewerage facility is critically low in this country. Based on the World Bank data, only about four percent (4%) of the population nationwide had access to sewerage as of 2000 and that, of the vast majority of households with septic tanks, only about three percent (3%) (mostly rural) had acceptable on-site treatment and disposal.

The World Bank further observed that "effluent from ubiquitous septic tanks usually drains into uncovered drainage systems, which leaves the majority of the population across the country exposed to raw sewage.   Solid waste collection is effective, and large quantities of such waste often accumulate and block drainage canals, exacerbating public health problems. Even when collected, improper disposal practices for both septic tank sludge and solid waste contribute to severe environmental degradation of water bodies throughout the country, and undermine economic activity and growth in various sectors, including tourism."

Based on the results of the 1994-2004 water quality monitoring study, all the 15 rivers that flow to the Laguna Lake were monitored to exhibit high fecal contamination exposing to health risk about 2.7 million population. Part of this problem can be traced to the lack of sanitation facilities among the households in the municipalities surrounding the Laguna Lake. This lack of sanitation facilities can also be attributed to the lack of information on available appropriate technology in which local government units and concerned institutions can effectively use to address the sanitation problem in their locality.

GTZ had been successful in promoting demo toilets in the Visayas. In Bohol, GTZ built a demonstration Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilet (UDDT) or "waterless" toilet which allows separate collection and on-site storage or treatment of urine and human waste. This innovative and low-cost technology follows the principle of ecological sanitation or "ecosan" which embraces a new kind of lifestyle and philosophy. It is about closing the loop of domestic waste and agriculture production. It does not waste any resources. It practices the principle of use, reuse, and recyle.

GTZ was successful in promoting this technology based on the acceptance of our Urine Diversion Dehydration Toilet (UDDT) in places like San Fernando, Bohol, Oriental Negros and Cagayan de Oro city.

GTZ also provided technical consultancy services in the construction of the first wetland treatment plant for communal sewer in the Philippines located in Bayawan City in Oriental, Negros. This plant will serve some 350 families.