PUVeP News

GTZ, Seecon and PUVeP train “Ecosan Experts of the Future”

In line with GTZ Water and Sanitation Program’s goal to strengthen the capacity of the program partners in providing appropriate technical support to local governments, communities and other clientele, the Program in cooperation with the Periurban Vegetable Project (PUVeP) and Seecon International conducted a two-week training course on “Capacity Building for Ecological Sanitation: The Ecosan Trainers of the Future” from April 7-18, 2008 at Xavier University‘s Magis Training Center in Cagayan de Oro City.

The said training was participated by 30 professionals from Government Sectors, Non-Government Organizations and Church based Agencies, representing different field of expertise such as Agronomy, Aquaculture, Agricultural and Civil Engineering, Medicine, Nursing and Community Organizing.

The course aimed to qualify potential trainers and multiplicators for sustainable sanitation, to enable the trainees to actively promote sanitation and to take leadership in implementing projects in the various fields of sanitation. According to Mr. Martin Wafler, one of the resource speakers of the training, “the course aims to help the participants disseminate knowledge on Ecological Sanitation and providing them insights on various advancement of technologies”.

Resource Speakers from Seecon, GTZ, and Xavier University gave lectures on the different technological options of ecosan, considering its health and socio-economic aspects, reuse of treated Ecosan products in agriculture, different types of decentralized wastewater treatments, biogas resource usage, rainwater catchment techniques as well as other developmental topics related to food security, health and environment

A representative from DILG presented the incoming “Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project in the Visayas & Mindanao (RW3SPVM)” as a possible funding tool of DILG for cities and municipalities to implement ecosan projects starting in 2009. Field exposures to see ecosan in practice were conducted in Manresa Farm with its UDD toilets, rainwater catchments, composting, vermicomposting and biogas facilities. The actual reuse of treated ecosan products to different crops was conducted in the RUAF Christa Holtz Allotment Garden in barangay Macasandig in cooperation of the local community.

During the training, the participants learned more about management of ecosan projects, and through role plays they practiced on how to rise awareness about sustainable sanitation in different real life situations. Several groups were formed to discuss the drawback of conventional sanitation systems as well as the advantages and disadvantages of different ecosan technologies. Six case studies for possible implementation were prepared and presented at the last day of the course, At the end of the training,, all participants obtained an identification card certifying them as “Ecosan Expert”. The course was very well received by the trainees. “The training has opened my mind to new possibilities in achieving sustainable development”, said Engr. Dexter Lo faculty of Xavier University College of Engineering.

Back 08.05.2008.