The province of Negros Occidental kicked off the 2021 Tourism Month celebration with Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson turning over the Tourist Restroom at the terminal area in the town of Calatrava on September 10), plus safety health protocol stickers for accommodation establishments and tourism offices in the first district of the province.

Responding to the needs of tourists in a province considered to be the second highest in terms of tourist arrival next to Aklan in Western Visayas, the provincial government thru the Provincial Tourism Office in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Engineer built green tourist restrooms, funded under the 20% Provincial Development Fund.

This restroom is considered to be a green building with provision of thermoplastic roofing for natural  lighting, open transom windows for natural cross ventilation, clerestory roof design to dissipate solar heat gain, a green wall for improved indoor air quality, and visual comfort.

The restroom has an area of 75 square meters and has separate rooms for men and women, with about three cubicles, five urinals and two sinks for the male comfort room, while the female comfort room has five cubicles for its water closet and three sinks, plus provision for one water closet, railings and a sink for persons with disability and a space for tourist information.

Project coordinator is Engr. Larry Pio Ledesma with Architect Levi John Cayayan.

Four more restrooms are expected to be finished this year in the towns of Don Salvador Benedicto and Hinigaran and in the cities of Sipalay and Victorias./WDJ