Filipino households have more phones than toilets.

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Avatar for DennMarc
2 years ago

In a certain home, one of the basic part is having a comfort room and toilet is included. What if your very own house doesn't have a functional toilet? Toilets are so important because as we eat, we also need to defecate. Then what if you don't have a proper and safe place to defecate? That is one of the major problems facing by those underprivileged places most especially in Manila and particular place in some provinces.

The problem lies to why Filipino households prefer to buy smartphone than building their own functional toilet at home. This is very interesting topic that I have been curious about to write. In fact, a long time ago, this topic was even debated in our classroom. I find this topic so important to talk about because health problems are so risky nowadays.

Living in farm (has toilet but not functional)

As you all know, I grew up in farm for almost 10 years. Basically, I spent my teenage years planting and farming several crops in farmland. Living in farm is feeling like isolated because we have no neighbourhood. In addition, there is no source of electricity which basically living like without electricity in 9 years. That is why I am used to not using electric fan and any technological devices or equipments.

Our house was wooden-made back then. My parents used strong woods which is cheap compare to prices now. So you can imagine that our comfort room is made with woods too. Later on, we cannot able to use it since the woods build there fell down because of several thunderstorms passed by. Additionally, the bowl wasn't functional too. The water doesn't go down easily and it stays so long until you wanna leave. That is the reason why we chose not to use it anymore.

Defecation in farm field

The very first time I defecated in farm field was when I really can't hold my poops. This happened way back I think I was around eleven years old. I went to Sampaloc (tamarind) tree which is at least 30 meters away from our house. There is waterway and I sat down and lay like a king. Are you wondering where this water will go? Well, the water flows to rice field and the water keeps running since the entirety of field is wide. Thus, that very water way is used by others too as a bridge to connect water from other farmers.

What's interesting about defecating in outside is that you have to do it in a very short amount of time. You have no time to leisure and daydream about anything because I don't want to be caught by some farmers. Tell me honestly, we used to play games, watch videos, play music or daydream something while defecating. I do not know the scientific explanation in that particular area. I do not used water from the waterway. I always brought two liters of water and a soap to wash myself.

Statistical data (phones vs toilets)

According to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are about 70 percent of Filipino families claimed that they have owned functional toilet which isn't shared to any family. While, 84 percent of Filipino families claimed that they owned a personal smartphone. This data showed that there is about 14 percent gap between possession of toilets and smartphones. The data was later on publicly announced by Health Secretary Francisco Duque 3rd on November 2017.

If we look closely it is very alarming rate that Filipinos still purchasing smartphones than building their own functional toilet at home. Based on the data I gathered from Philippine Statistics Authority, the Philippine has a total of 104,70,000 (104.7M) population in the year 2017. If I compute the total of 70% of 104 million, there are only 73,290,000 individuals who have proper toilet which means there 31, 410,000 individuals left.

On the other hand, there are around 87, 948,000 individuals who possessed smartphones and 16,752,000 who don't. Can you imagine the big difference? Actually, these families can afford to build their own toilet but choose not. A smartphone can worth atleast ₱4,000 to ₱6,000 ($80-$120) each. If you can add each phone price they possesed, I think it will be around atleast ₱12,000 ($240). That would be sufficient to build a decent comfort room with functional toilet.

The community project

In 2014, DOH has implemented a project called "Goodbye, Dumi! Hello, Healthy!". It was a project to encourage Filipinos to build their own toilet at home. Thankfully, the project was later on successful with the sudden increase of percent gathered by PSA in 2018. I think the project was good, however the fact that Manila has still improper toilet facilities today.

Sanitation aligned to our health and environment. If we don't take take care our own selves, then we can expect to be sick anytime soon. Most especially, the virus is still lingering and will not fade away in just a single clap. Be realistic in choosing decision particularly when your home and family members are at risk. Isn't good to see your home that can live by comfortably?

Special thanks to ate @Bloghound for sponsoring me. Thus, to all renewals of sponsorship as well. I really appreciated!

Thank you for reading!

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2 years ago

Comments

Wow, this is shocking. Actually ngayon ko lang din nalaman to. If I were them, uunahin ko magka proper bathroom kesa phone. Pwedeng magkasakit dahil sa unsanitary ng place. This is sad.

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2 years ago

People just eat, drink, etc. It does not need activities. It is a need to have fun, it may not be as important as a vital need, but it is important in the end. Smartphones and the internet are one of the cheapest sources of entertainment to have today. It's comparable to many things, but I don't think anyone will give up because of its use case and convenience.

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2 years ago

This is sooo trueee. It's funny and sad at the same time how most of the Filipino peeps prefer purchasing smartphones instead of saving some for building own comfort room.

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2 years ago

A nice topic to dive with. You made everything on point, Marc.

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2 years ago

Defecating in the bush is very common to us that stayed in the countryside. Sometimes the toilet are home are not functional and messy, so we use the bush for quick ease🤪

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2 years ago

That's so true dong. I just remembered those time na may namimigay na nang libre na pagpagawa nung toilet para talaga nang bahay dito sa baryo namin may kanya-kanyang toilet. Importante talaga na meron kasi sa panahon ngayon, ewan ko na lang kung may mag.poop pa sa mga tagung lugar na walang cr. Haha (Maliban nalang talaga kung wala nang ibang choice)

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2 years ago

Oo nga po ate. Ang hirap ng walang proper toilet ngayon lalo na kung nakatira ka sa city. Magandang project yon kung namimigay na ng free service.

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2 years ago

Ayy totoo nga yan. Kaya talaga dapat unahin yung mga kailangan na kailangan talaga..

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2 years ago

Natawa ako sa title tapos biglang narealize na, 'ay oonga no' Di naman daw kasi nakakaentertain yung cr hahaha.

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2 years ago

Hahaha. Awit sa Entertainment kaysa sa basic needs ng bahay. Haha. Sorry wala akong maisip na better na Title.

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2 years ago

Same walang Cr na maayos dati sa bahay namin katulad din ng sainyo bahay namin as nasend ko sa gc yung bahay namin noon diba. WLa din kaming electricfan at nakikinuod lang din ako dati sa kapitbahay.

Kung ako tatanungin, mas gugustuhin ko pa magkabanyo at Kuryente kami dati kesa magkasariling phone. Lol

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2 years ago

Oo nga po ate naalala ko yung sinend mong picture dati sa gc. Ang hirap ng ganyang sitwadyon, hindi mo alam kung anong gagawin mo kapag need mo mag poops tapos sabay sabay kayo. Haha.

Same ate. Mas gusto ng kuryente at cr kaysa sa gadget. Basic needs natin yon ih.

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2 years ago

Ohhh as you mentioned about the PSA where you take the source of information about the statistical data, I think I'm part of this job hehehe we gather data information about the population of every household as well as the properties. Of course toilet and cellphone or any appliances are included.

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2 years ago

Oh you are workong in PSA ate? I'm planning to work there as well after I finish my study. I love doing that kind of job. Nagtake na kayo ng civil service exam?

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2 years ago

Yup .contractual lng un. Hindi wala akong civil eligibility. Ano lng license sa teacher.

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2 years ago

Di ako mapakali pag walang cr talaga kaya noon mas inuna namin ang cr gawin kahit wala muna akong cellphone... Totoo to May nakita ako na ganyan dito, ang gaganda ng mga cellphone pero walang cr. Makikigamit lang sa iba.

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2 years ago

Mahalaga talaga ang cr kahit saan natin aspeto tignan. Nakakahiya naman maki gamit ng cr sa kapitbahay haha. Good thing na inuna nyo talaga ate ang pag papagawa ng cr.

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2 years ago

Kaya nga eh, nahihiya akong makigamit at saka di ako makabawas ng maayos pag ganun, hahaha.

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2 years ago

Oo nga bro, totoo to.

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2 years ago

Marami bang ganyan sainyo bro?

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2 years ago

Grabe din no, it's a matter of prioritizing I guess. I would rather have a toilet than a phone if that's the case hehe

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2 years ago

True. Unfortunately, they made a wrong prioritisation. But we cannot blame them because since living in squatter area is not permanent.

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2 years ago

Seriously It's happen there my friend? By reading this article I laugh sometimes and felt sad for cr.

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2 years ago

Yes, it may be laughable but it really happened in my country. I really don't know why they prefer phone over toilet.

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2 years ago

Ito ay totoong totoo haha.. Ang gagara nga ng mga cellphone ng iba eh eh halos magkano na din yun.. samantalang sa 1000 pesos eh 5 bags na ng semento yun.. tas hollow blocks eh 4 pesos....isang cr na din yung 5000 pesos or less pa..

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2 years ago

Oh diba kuys, ang 5k pwedeng pwede na makapagpatayo ng sariling cr. Ilang hollowblocks lang din tas semento at buhangin.

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2 years ago

Relate na relate ako jan nung nasa bundok pa kami nakatira ,wala kaming toilet pero wala din kaing mga phone dati😅buti nalag may project ang barangay na magtayo ng toilet sa sitio ng walang mga toilet ag bahay ,5houses kami dun at isa lang toilet pero priority ang mga dalaga na makagamit ng toilet ,yung iba sa sa damuhan nalang😅

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2 years ago

Oh diba ate ang hirap ng walang toilet haha. Ang ganda ng project ng barangay nyo na mag tayo ng toilet for public. Kaso if 1 toilet per 5 houses, parang ang hirap ata non.

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2 years ago

I remember when one of our neighbor had loan in a lending company for a C.R but ended up buying a cellphone.. 😅😅

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2 years ago

Hahaha. I bet that neighbour of yours will regret. What's the point of having a phone if you are always problematic to where you can defecate.

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2 years ago

I don't know either what comes into their mind because I notice sometimes that they always went to the nearest river haha,

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2 years ago

Hahaha true. Magkano kaya pampaayos ng maayos na CR tapos ang ma mahal ng smartphones?

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2 years ago

Uh, siguro ang pampaayos ng cr around 10k lang meron na eh. Tas ang mga smartphones ngayon ang mamahal na. Haha. Hays. Bakit kaya ganon ang mga pinoy.

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2 years ago

Never pa ako nakabili ng smartphone na lampas 10k. Last time bili ko na phone sa Pinas 8.5k pa yon in 2016. Kahit dito sa France nabilhan ako new phone nasa 100 euro lang.

Naghahabol sa specs Yong iba lalo na maganda ang camera. I'd rather buy a separate camera like DSLR, Nagamit ko pa for wedding photography business ko.

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2 years ago

Masyado rin kasing mahal para sa cellphone ang bumili ng 10k above ang price. Lilipasan din naman. Haha.

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2 years ago

Truth. Yong di pa uso smartphone may cousins ako nagpapa bili worth 25k of phones. Mga wala namang trabaho that time. Haha

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2 years ago

Nung una Hindi ko gets pero nung nabasa ko nagets ko na hehe. Sa bandang baseco sa manila Wala mga cr dun. Sa dagat direcho nung poop nila

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User's avatar Yen
2 years ago

Ayy hehe. Nag iba kasi ako ng mga wordings ate kaya siguro hindi mo agad nakuha. Hindi ko pa nararating ang Baseco pero maraming ganyan na malapit sa ilog at dagat.

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2 years ago

Hehe natawa ako dun sa you look like a king marc. Totoo yan Marc ako lagi ako nag pho-phone pag times of defecation. Oo nga Marc nuh mas marami pang nag spent for smartphones than a toilet. Ngayon ko lang din narealize na nabasa ko yung article mo Marc.

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2 years ago

Hahaha. Pasensya na ate. As much as possible ginawa ko lang medyo humour kasi medyo sensitige ang topic. Ang daming gantong problem lalo na sa mga nakatira ay malapit sa dagat.

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2 years ago

Hehe. Okay lang Marc. Oo Marc totoo ang dami talaga. Dapat magawan din ng solusyon Marc.

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2 years ago