Dear CAPS Board Members, staff, partners and friends,

It’s been a long time since I updated you on CAPS program and project achievements.  Not that there’s nothing to write; on the contrary, there’s so much to share.  I’m even tempted to say that because of so many things to do, I missed the opportunity to talk to you through this column.  Even though that’s true, it’s not and cannot be used as an excuse. 

So what were I and the whole CAPS organization so busy about?  The short version is CAPS has been busy managing three (3) major projects from 2008 to the present, namely, the WASTE-ISSUE2 Program, the WSP-SuSEP Project and SEI/EcoSanRes 2 Knowledge Node Project. Apart from this, CAPS was actively involved in the activities of the Philippine Ecosan Network (PEN), with me being the President of the Network and CAPS as the Secretariat.  PEN had annual national events during the same period. As you can see, these undertakings are not earth shaking, but I believe they are trailblazing and direction setting.

Under the ISSUE 2 Program, CAPS partnered up with the Provincial Government of La Union to conceptualize, plan and implement the sanitation program of the Province, entitled, “Sanitasyon Para Kada Tayo Amin”, (Sanitation for All).  We can say that it is the first Province-level sanitation program in the country.  Directly managed by our Program Manager and Board Secretary, Mr. Leo De Castro, the ISSUE 2 Program was able to generate and mobilize multi-stakeholder participation and resources for capacity building, sustainable sanitation project implementation and Ecosan field research in several municipalities.  The Program has benefited close to 5,000 families in terms of better access to sanitation facilities and Solid Waste Management services.

Under the SuSEP Project, CAPS led the push and propagation of sustainable sanitation framework, concepts and principles.  As such, CAPS’ proposed Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Framework was imbedded in the newly formulated and NEDA-approved Philippine Sustainable Sanitation Roadmap. Directly managed by our Special Senior Adviser and Board Member, Ms. Lilia Casanova, the SuSEP Project brought to the surface the important role but sadly neglected plight of the Sanitary Inspectors in the fight against water-borne diseases and urban degradation. A consortium of six academic and training institutions was established and poised to implement formal and non-formal education programs on Sustainable Sanitation.

Under the Knowledge Node Project, CAPS led the entire PEN members and partners in a two-day national event, the Philippine Symposium on Sustainable Sanitation held last October 2009 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, another first.  Thanks to partners like the Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Local Government Academy, the Asian Development Bank, the World Health Organization, World Bank-WSP, the Stockholm Environment Institute, WASTE (Netherlands), and many others. The Symposium became a venue where more than 200 participants gathered to discuss critical health, environment and food security issues related to sanitation.  In the next few months, the Knowledge Node Project will be churning out researches that will surprise and interest all of you.

In the early part of 2010, CAPS, as the official NGO delegate, joined the Philippine Government led by the Department of Health in hosting the Second East Asian Ministerial Conference on Sanitation and Hygiene (EASAN2) in January 2010.  The Conference, attended by 13 official country delegations, highlighted the need to promote Sustainable Sanitation and achieve the MDG on Sanitation in the region by the signing the Manila Declaration.

Like I said, CAPS is trailblazing the country towards Sustainable Sanitation.  My sincerest hope is that our journey will become earth shaking sooner than later to awaken all of us to prioritize and invest in sanitation, especially for the poor.

Always at your service,

Dan Lapid
President/Executive Director