Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero has lauded the Iloilo provincial government for being named a Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Achievement Champion for its sanitation drive, saying other local government units (LGUs) can draw lessons from the province’s systematic and community‑based approach.
The veteran legislator’s commendation came after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) named Iloilo an SDG Achievement Champion and granted the province a P750,000 incentive for its gains under the “Zero to Limpyo Iloilo” sanitation program.
“Ito ang uri ng programang dapat tularan ng iba pa nating mga pamahalaang lokal. Simpleng programa pero napakalaki ng impact,” Escudero said as he emphasized that sanitation improvements directly reduce disease risks and improve quality of life, especially in rural communities.
The senator added that the province’s model aligns with national development goals and can help accelerate compliance with SDG 6 of the United Nations on clean water and sanitation.
He said LGUs need not reinvent the wheel, as Iloilo’s framework already shows how local governments can mobilize barangays, strengthen monitoring, and sustain behavioral change.
“Kung nagawa ng Iloilo, makakaya rin ng iba. Ang mahalaga ay seryosong pagtutok at pakikipagtulungan sa mga komunidad,” Escudero added as he urged other LGUs to study the province’s “best practices” and adapt them to their own contexts.
Iloilo’s sanitation program first gained national attention when it was named among the Top 10 Galing Pook Awardees in 2023, further cementing its reputation as a governance model.
The Bicolano lawmaker expressed hope that the DILG incentive will encourage more LGUs to invest in sanitation systems, noting that improved hygiene standards contribute to long‑term public‑health resilience.