In celebration of October 15 Global Handwashing Day, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) forged a partnership with the Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, the local governments of Cagayan de Oro City and Tagbilaran City, and local non-government organizations Balay Mindanaw Foundation, Inc. and Bohol Integrated Development Initiative to install handwashing facilities and promote handwashing practices.

Through the partnership, handwashing stations will be installed in public areas such as barangay health centers, public markets, transportation terminals, ports, and parks in Cagayan de Oro City and Tagbilaran City.

“The success of handwashing initiatives relies upon the inherent strength of partnerships between the public, private sectors, and local developmental partners,” said USAID Philippines Mission Director Lawrence Hardy II. “As we pool our knowledge, resources, and ingenuity to respond to the evolving challenges that COVID-19 presents, we are reminded that handwashing is among the simplest and most effective ways to protect ourselves and our communities.”

The installation of handwashing facilities will help the local governments of Cagayan de Oro and Tagbilaran institutionalize good hygiene and handwashing practices. This initiative also includes education campaigns for marketgoers, vendors, commuters, and patients in health centers.

USAID provided the concept designs of the handwashing facilities, which feature a foot-pedal function to reduce the risk of cross contamination from multiple users. The Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines will fund the installations in the two cities through its partners Balay Mindanaw Foundation in Cagayan de Oro and Bohol Integrated Development Initiative in Tagbilaran.

The United States continues to lead the global effort to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. In the Philippines, the U.S. government has provided more than Php 1 billion to bolster the Philippine government and Filipino people’s fight against the pandemic.