The toilets located at Botanical Garden and Wright Park snatched the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations Tourism Standards Awards’ “ASEAN Public Toilet Award”.
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 on 2021.
City Supervising Tourism Officer Aloysius Mapalo said the toilets will become the model of all public toilets in tourist-frequented areas in the city during the Ugnayang Panlungsod held Jan. 11 at the Baguio City Hall multipurpose hall.
He said this is the first time a government-managed lavatory won the award.
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 also 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 agent, is considered.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong hailed the Cepmo for the feat.
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 Feb. 5 at the Marriott Yogyakarta Hotel, Indonesia. – Mileyvonne Tiamzon
April 24, 2024
