Bernadas, A. K. T. (2014). Towards an open-defecation free community through sanitation strategies: The Paglat, Maguindanao Experience (Unpublished master's thesis). Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Graduate School of Public and Development Management Health Systems and Development Batch 4 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

Objectives. 1. To describe the current sanitation status, the perception and sanitation practices in Paglat. 2. To develop intervention to address the open defecation 3. To determine the effect of the identified intervention on the open defecation practice. Methodology. A descriptive method both qualitative and quantitative methods was utilized in the study. Data was gathered using FDG, Observation, KII, Document analysis and survey. The study was limited to 50 households conducted at Brgy. Kakal ,Paglat, during the time period of Nov. 2013 to Sept 2014. Results. Only about 13 % of the population have toilets and hence the problem on open defecation. The lack of toilets was due to lack of financial capability of the households. The poor sanitation practices and perceptions of the community reflects the insufficient WASH program implemented and the lack of LGU policies on open defecation.It was seen that there was a significant improvement on the practice of open defecation in Sitio Ali after the conduct of CLTS and WASH class, an increase from 5% to 92%. Conclusion. Sanitation strategies in light of strengthening health systems of improving the 6 building blocks is effective to end open defecation. Recommendation. Institutionalize a monitoring and evaluation of the sanitation system. Scale up sanitation by conducting the CLTS and WASH class in other communities. Establish PPP to allocate to support funds for sanitation. Develop local entrepreneurship to finance purchase of toilets among households.