CONTEXT // PRODUCTION,
PILOTING, COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

In the Philippines, Lupang Arenda Multi-Purpose Cooperative
(LAMCO) currently produces WASHaLOT 3.0 units.
The cooperative has produced a total number of 115 units
and 50 units have been installed in the investigated schools.
Piloting of the WASHaLOT 3.0 took place in 20 elementary
schools in the Schools Division of Batangas Province,
Philippines. Batangas Province is located 90 km south of
Metro Manila. The Schools Division of Batangas Province is
comprised of 609 elementary schools and 144 secondary
schools spread across 36 school districts.
Ten of the 20 elementary schools, which piloted the
WASHaLOT 3.0 for a period of four months (starting in
September 2017) were included in this TAF analysis.
These ten elementary schools received WASHaLOT 3.0 units
in the context of a study on hygiene behaviour and usability
of toilets by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical
Medicine (LSHTM).
The WASHaLOT 3.0 units had been delivered to schools
without legs and basins in order to provide room for community
involvement, practical participation and development of
ownership by the school community. One WASHaLOT 3.0 was
provided for every two to three classrooms so that around
100 children would share one WASHaLOT 3.0 with ten water
outlets. Schools received between three to six WASHaLOT 3.0
units depending on the number of classes the school has.

Summary

The assessment shows that the WASHaLOT 3.0 has been
scored positively for almost all of the indicators considered.
The WASHaLOT 3.0 as a technological solution to the need
for group washing facilities shows very good potential for
applicability in schools to provide a venue for healthy
hygiene habit formation.
The WASHaLOT 3.0 offers a low cost functional, durable,
water-saving and easy to operate group washing facility
which addresses most of the challenges related to the
management of hygiene practices in the schools. The simple
design and ability to accommodate many students, thus
minimising time allotted for conducting group washing
activities prior to eating or after garden work make it
suitable for schools where teacher-to-student contact
time is important.
The DepEd has the capacities and structure to implement
the introduction of the WASHaLOT 3.0 to its schools. Already
existing regular school visits and monitoring/evaluation
in pilot schools can also be utilised as a feedback and
follow-up mechanism before upscaling the WASHaLOT 3.0.

Recommendations

Funding

The scaling-up availability of group handwashing facilities
in schools needs clear directives from the Central Office of
the DepEd concerning allocation of budget, respective budget
lines and agreements between national and local government
units as well as categorising whether the WASHaLOT 3.0 is
considered infrastructure or movable property.

Information Material

An operation and maintenance manual for school management
is needed prior to scaling up the production and use of
the WASHaLOT 3.0 nationwide. The manual should contain
information on WASHaLOT 3.0 installation, operation and
cleaning, including simple repairs. The manual should also list
a customer hotline within the DepEd for schools to contact if
technical support for the WASHaLOT 3.0 is required. The DepEd
contact person should have close connection to the producer.
Aside from the operation and maintenance manual, a short
video would also be helpful to introduce the WASHaLOT 3.0
to DepEd divisions and schools in the Philippines.

Modular Package

To take lessons learnt into account, the WASHaLOT 3.0 should
be marketed as a packaged concept. This package should
include necessary materials and information enabling the
users to manage installation and operation and maintenance
aspects of the WASHaLOT 3.0 as well as to ensure standardised
quality and easy shipment

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