Why are Filipinos famous for their inability to maintain clean toilets? It is a shame when a restaurant offers some of the best entrees and desserts but, when nature calls, customers are stuck in a stinky toilet. Why? This column has repeatedly discussed the matter of clean toilets yet, when recently stopping by a decent eatery for snacks, the toilet required water to be manually poured into the toilet in order to flush.
Despite such examples, city health departments seem to not care and just want to collect the fees for sanitation permits without conducting proper inspections. Such unsanitary value espoused by Filipinos can be traced back to these health officials.
Manokan Country is one of the best examples, selling the best chicken inasal on the plant but with the most unsanitary toilets – not one government official has lifted a finger to impose strict hygiene and sanitation standards. This also rings true with some medium-sized establishments, such as those selling pancit. Look at their toilets, owners fails to invest in keeping sparkling facilities.
It’s also time to stop calling them “comfort rooms” or “restrooms” since they neither provide comfort or rest.
A matter of character?
If cities like Dumaguete City and Marikina City are able to maintain clean toilets, is it a matter of character with those overseeing operations in Bacolod City? Even the old City Hall possesses some of the most unsanitary facilities – a retired City Hall worker pointed out, “Even when this was the main City Hall, the toilets [were] unsanitary already.”
A mall tenant noted, city health authorities usually inspect “classy restaurants,” with one earning a 70 percent grade; he questioned, if that’s the case, how would the average carinderia rate?
Even with such observations, local government authorities don’t care.
With tourism establishments requiring clearance from the Department of Tourism (DOT), why not have DOT play a role in inspecting toilets? The government agency has potentially more determination to develop a clean toilet program.
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This column greets Atty. Sedfrey Cabaluna, Jane Javellana, Reuben Tampos, Francis Redil Villanueva, Francis Velez, Ver Pacete, Jennylind Cordero, Artie Lacson, Jojo Vito, Joy Jimenez, Michael Trani, and Frank Carbon./WDJ