BAGUIO CITY – Well-designed toilets located in the Botanical Garden and in Wright Park earned an award –- ‘ASEAN Public Toilet Award’ – for this city in the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Tourism Standards Awards.’
City Tourism Officer Engr. Aloysius Mapalo revealed that the toilets will become the model of all public toilets in tourist-frequented areas in the city.
The toilets are managed by the City Environment and Parks Management Office. The Wright Park facility was completed in 2020 while the Botanical Park lavatory in 2021.
“It is the first time a government-managed lavatory won the prestigious award”, he added.
The award is based on ‘Design and Environmental Management System,’ which involves ‘good waste water management system and standardized water treatment system, pleasant landscape and design, clear public toilet signboards, disabled and elderly facilities.’
It is likewise judged based on amenities and facilities which involve appropriate space for each cubicle, sufficient provision of amenities, coat hangers and ledges in cubicles.
Points are also earned for “cleanliness,’ which is based on ventilation, good smell, tidiness of the facility, and customer interaction by designated personnel.
Safety, which includes lighting, location, construction, materials used and use of environmental cleaning agents is also considered.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong hailed CEPMO headed by Atty. Rhenan Diwas for the award. “Big big congratulations to Team CEPMO. You nailed it.”
The ASEAN Public Toilet Awards is an initiative of the ASEAN Tourism Standards Task Force to address the quality standard issues in public toilets.
The awarding ceremony will be held on February 5, 2023 at the Marriott Yogyakarta Hotel, Indonesia.