Bringing Philippine Toilets Up To ASEAN Standards

Baguio wants to improve all public toilets and bring them up to international standards. But what does that mean exactly? 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1243312

The city government is eyeing the improvement of all public toilets in parks, markets and other places of convergence to make them comply with international standards and safeguard public health.

Mayor Benjamin Magalong in a media interview on Tuesday said the upgrading of the toilets actually started in 2020 but they plan to step up the efforts to cover all public areas to make them conform to the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Public Toilet Standards (APTS).

Among the measures being done are the provision of amenities, ventilation, and proper lighting.

Magalong recalled the city already has two model toilets located at the Botanical Garden and Wright Park, which won the ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards’ “ASEAN Public Toilet Award" in 2023 and 2024.

"We hope to apply this successful transformation to all our public comfort rooms in the city to realize our commitment to provide clean, accessible and well-maintained toilets for all," the mayor said.

Rhenan Diwas, head of the City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO), said they are working alongside the local finance committee on the funding requirements to realize the project.

"We want to replicate the success across all public comfort rooms in the city. Priority is being given to facilities in Burnham Park and Harrison Road which are critical due to high foot traffic and the bustling night market," Diwas said.

He called on the public to support the initiative to elevate the city’s public amenities to world-class standards by doing their share in keeping these facilities clean.

Diwas, who received the latest ASEAN recognition during the awards program last Jan. 20, said it is an affirmation of the doability of the vision, highlighting the importance of clean, well-maintained public facilities that reflect the values and cleanliness standards of the people of Baguio.

Aileen Refuerzo, chief information officer of the city government, said the ASEAN standards award requires public toilets to have proper design and environmental management systems.

She said the guidelines include having good waste water management system and standardized water treatment system, pleasant landscape and design, clear public toilet signboards, disabled and elderly facilities.

Cubicles must have appropriate space, amenities such as coat hangers and ledges in cubicles, good ventilation and pleasant smell. For safety, considerations are lighting, location, construction, materials used and use of environmental cleaning agent.

Two things to note here. One, the upgrade has been ongoing for five years. Two, there is nothing in the guidelines about toilet paper.

Thankfully there is a 105 page book detailing ASEAN toilet standards. Toilet paper is mentioned in the standards.

https://www.asean.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/ASEAN-Public-Toilet-Standard.pdf

 

There are various types of toilets within the ASEAN region with different norms and designs. Also, the ASEAN region hosts countries with tropical weathers and high humidity levels and is home to various religions (i.e. Muslim toilet etiquette) and cultural habits influencing how the toilet is used (both squatting and seating habits, both washing and paper wiping habits). This handbook has been compiled with the purpose of establishing a standard applicable to all Public Toilet premises in the ASEAN region, as a guideline to assist in the auditing of Public Toilets according to the ASEAN Public Toilet Standard (APTS) (as issued on June 25 2012), in short as a tool to improve the quality of Public Toilets and therefore of the tourism experience.

There is quite a lot about toilet paper and washing facilities in this very long and detailed handbook. Maybe Baugio will include paper but probably not. Paper, along with proper washing facilities, is listed under amenities. Filipinos love to use the tabo which is a bucket a ladle but that is not listed in this guidebook. A public tabo is also extremely unhygienic. 

However, here is a checklist for toilets that hope to meet ASEAN Standards.

4.2 says WC has a toilet seat and lid. 4.6 says Manual/Auto flush is clean and functioning. How many toilets in the Philippines DO NOT HAVE a lid and DO NOT flush? Quite a lot. Many public toilets I have seen are simply not fit for use. Toilets at the mall do not even have paper which means SM, Robinson, and Ayala mall toilets are not up to ASEAN standards. A huge roll of paper outside the stalls does not count. If those malls cannot meet ASEAN standards can Baguio really do it?