Passengers form long queues to the immigration counters at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Thursday morning. Some passengers missed their flights as the whole check-in process took hours due to the shortage of manpower from the Bureau of Immigration. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Communal toilets, or restrooms catering to anyone regardless of gender, will soon rise in Philippine commercial airports, the country’s aviation authority said Monday.
The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) will construct such restrooms in 41 commercial airports starting this month, as part of the aviation authority’s gender awareness development program.
CAAP will build the first gender-neutral restrooms in its central office and in passenger terminal buildings in Busuanga, Butuan, Calbayog, Cauyan, Dipolog, Legaspi, Masbate, Naga, Pagadian, Puerto Princesa and Tuguegarao.
The program would encourage gender awareness and sensitivity as required under Republic Act 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women and Executive Order 273 or the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development, the aviation authority said.
CAAP will also rehabilitate existing restrooms as part of the program.(MNS)