Ecosan Projects in

San Fernando City,

Province of La Union
Reporter: Franz Aliber P. Alipio
These projects were implemented under the Integrated Support for Sustainable Urban
Environment (ISSUE) Programme of the WASTE, a Dutch NGO from the Netherlands
with the Center for Advanced Philippine Studies (CAPS) as local implementing Partner.
Contents
Discussion of the Ecosan Projects in San Fernando City, Province of La Union

Introduction & Background 01

Objectives 02

Sanitation System 03

Key Partners & Stakeholders 04

Impacts & Challenges 05

Contents
Discussion of the Ecosan Projects in San Fernando City, Province of La Union

Accounts of the Three Communities with

Ecosan
06

Conclusion 07

References 08
I. Introduction & Background
Introduction

Communities

Local Partner
Background

-Population of 102,082 residents, with an annual growth

rate of 2.265%.

-Urban Center of Northern

Luzon
II. Objectives
Objectives
• Aims to promote sustainable sanitation

• Issues to be resolve
 Lack of toilets

 Short of water supply

 Contaminated groundwater sources

III. Sanitation System
 Sanitation System
• A sanitation system includes the capture, storage, transport, treat-
ment and disposal or reuse of human excreta and wastewater.
IV. Key Partners & Stakeholders
 Key Partners & Stakeholders

-Center for Advanced Philippine Studies (CAPS)

-Solid Waste Management of the Philippines (SWAPP)

-Foundation for a Sustainable Society, Inc. (FSSI)

-Institute for the Development of Educational and Ecological Alterna-

tives, Inc. (IDEAS) all played vital roles.

-Funding came from the Dutch NGO, WASTE.

V. Impacts & Challenges
 Impacts & Challenges

- The Ecosan project led to significant changes in the communities.

Impacts Challenges
Improved Sanitation Ash Supply
Environmental Benefits Technological Improvements
Community Pride and Urine Collection and Storage
Engagement
Scaling Up and Replication Supply Limitations
Government Commitment Community Adaptation
VI. Accounts of the Three Communities
with Ecosan
 Accounts of the Three Communities with Ecosan

1. Barangay Nagyubuyuban
-This upland farming village successfully integrated the Ecosan sys-
tem. Some residents faced ash supply issues but found solutions through
community cooperation.

2. Barangay San Agustin

-A coastal barangay, where typhoons damaged many UDDTs, leaving
only two functioning. Collection and storage of dried feces were managed
by the Barangay EcoSan Committee.

3. Fishermen's Village
-A resettlement area for informal settlers, this village installed UDDTs in
all housing units. Some UDDTs remained idle due to issues like cock-
roaches and foul odor. Urine collection and storage faced challenges.
VII. Conclusion
 Conclusion

• Leadership & Collaboration - They embrace of this technology not only

improved the lives of community but also set the stage for a broader
transformation.

• Community engagement - Their engagement was more than a gesture;

it was a testament to the power of community-driven change.

• Pursuit of sustainable solutions - signifies a commitment to creating last-

ing positive impacts while considering the well-being of the community
and the environment for generations to come.
Questions
 Questions

What organization served as the local implementing partner for the Ecosan
pilot projects in San Fernando City?
a) Center for Advanced Philippine Studies (CAPS)
b) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
c) World Health Organization (WHO)
d) Philippine Department of Sanitation
 Questions

Answer:
a) Center for Advanced Philippine Studies
(CAPS)
 Questions

What was the primary goal of the Ecosan project in San Fernando City?
a) To build more traditional toilets in the pilot areas
b) To address water supply issues
c) To promote sustainable sanitation in poor communities
d) To improve transportation in the city
 Questions

Answer:
c) To promote sustainable sanitation in poor
communities
 Questions

Which sanitation technology was at the heart of the transformation in the

Ecosan projects?
a) Traditional pit latrines
b) Urine-diverting dehydration toilets (UDDT)
c) Composting toilets
d) Flush toilets
 Questions

Answer:
b) Urine-diverting dehydration toilets (UDDT)
 Questions

What is one of the significant environmental benefits of the Ecosan sys-

tem?
a) Increased water pollution
b) Reduced gardens and farms
c) Responsible waste treatment and reuse of human waste
d) Decreased community pride and engagement
 Questions

Answer:
c) Responsible waste treatment and reuse of
human waste
 Questions

What challenge did some communities face during the Ecosan projects re-
garding urine?
a) Excess urine production
b) Difficulty collecting urine from UDDTs
c) Lack of storage space for urine
d) Contamination of urine with feces
 Questions

Answer:
b) Difficulty collecting urine from UDDTs
VIII. References
 References
• Center for Advanced Philippine Studies (CAPS). (2007). Process Documentation of the Ecosan Project in San
Fernando City, La Union, Philippines: Lessons Learned and Scaling Up.

• Center for Advanced Philippine Studies (CAPS). (2004). Integrated Sustainable Waste Management Assess-
ment in San Fernando City, La Union.

• Center for Advanced Philippine Studies Notes Volume 1, Issue 1

• Dueñas, Maria Christina. (2008). Country Water Action: Philippines, San Fernando’s Dry Alternative.

• Ecosan Philippines

• Gomez, Maria Congee. (2009). Eco-san toilet bowls make its mark in the Philippines. An article posted on July
31, 2009, 11:30 am.

• Lapid, Danilo. (2005). Ecological Sanitation in the Philippines. August 2005

• San Fernando City Sanitation Plan 2007-2009

• Trioulayre, Pierrick. (2010). Network Improvement and Ecosan Marketing in San Fernando City, La Union.
• http://www.adb.org/water/actions/phi/San-Fernando.asp http://www.adb.org/Documents/Events/2005/Sanita-
tion-Wastewater-Management/paper-
• lapid.pdf http://www.impactalliance.org/ev_en.php?ID=49306_201&ID2=DO_TOPIC
THANK YOU!