After putting up pink urinals for men, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has finally given a thought to the comfort of women commuters and pedestrians in the nation’s capital.
Old habits. A female pedestrian ignores a man relieving himself just a few steps beside an MMDA pink urinal, which will soon be painted green. Joe Galvez
THANKS, BUT NO, THANKS?
While female urinals are nothing new (they have been used since 2004 by women concert goers at the Glastonbury festival in the UK), the concept is still not easy to grasp among conservative Pinays who might be more comfortable relieving themselves squatting on bed pans than standing up in open spaces. So what do Pinays in Manila think? GMANews.TV interviewed several women, who asked that their last names be withheld to protect their privacy, and found out that most are averse to the idea of female urinals, citing cleanliness and safety as primary concerns. “Siguro kapag tipong mala-water balloon na yung pantog ko, saka lang. Pero yung mga ganon? Death yon eh. Sobrang panghi. Sino magme-maintain?" said Ceska, a commuter. Another commuter, Kara, said she would not use an MMDA restroom unless she has no other choice. Like many women, she would rather use a fast food restaurant’s toilet. Joanne, also a commuter, was wary about the idea but says it seems like good news. “Sana magtayo sila ng CR talaga, hindi yung mukhang delikadong lugar na either magkakasakit ka or mabibiktima ka ng krimen." Anika, an IT communications worker, was initially horrified at the idea. “Just the thought of it gives me goosebumps. Imagine getting mugged with your pants down." After some thought, she added, “But if it's got walls and a roof and a lock, maybe, but never alone!" A female pedestrian interviewed by GMA News’ Saksi opposed the plan. “Walang privacy, kasi siyempre open sa public. Kahit na ho Portalet, ayaw ko. Gastos lang yan," she said. Another was a bit more open-minded. “Depende siguro kung anong klaseng urinal ang itatayo nila. Kung kagaya nang sa lalaki, parang mahirap. Kung Portalet okay lang, na-try ko naman noon eh, okay naman siya," she said. – Carmela G. Lapeña/YA, GMANEWS.TV For 2010, the MMDA announced that female urinals will be one of its priority projects, and construction of pilot units will be completed as soon as possible. “Binibiro namin na February 14, Valentine’s, baka magandang matapos by then. Parang ito ang gift namin sa mga kababaihan," MMDA general manager Roberto Nacianceno told GMANews.TV. “Hindi mass-produced iyan. Ang gagawa mismo mga tao namin, aming karpintero. Tingin ko magagawa – tatlo, apat, tapos makikita," he added. The projected cost per unit is 30,000 to 35,000 pesos, said Nacianceno. For now, the agency is not inclined to charge a fee for the facilities. In separate interviews with various GMA News programs, Nacianceno assured the public that the comfort rooms will be well-lighted, provided with adequate water supply, and maintained by metro aides. The female toilets will be placed in strategic pedestrian zones. “Iniisip-isip namin sa ilalim ng flyovers, kunwari sa Quezon avenue, may covered area dun, sa Kamuning, sa Ortigas … Maliban sa nakasilong, ang design lalagyan din ng bubong," he said.
What will they be like, really? In response to concerns raised about the plan, Nacianceno clarified, “It is not really a urinal, it will be a comfort room. Merong water sa looban ng urinal." For those afraid of peeping toms, he said doors with locks are being considered. “I assure you, unlike the male urinal na open, this one will be enclosed. We want to make sure that if the woman uses it she will be secured in the sense na hindi siya masisilipan, di pwede pumasok maski sino man when they are using the facility," he added. The MMDA is still working on the design of the women’s toilet, Nacianceno said. “Ang nagde-design nyan is a woman engineer, Lorena Estrella. We assigned a woman engineer to do the design for the women’s urinal so that yung security at privacy ng women who will use it mailalagay sa design," he said. “Fiberglass is one of the considerations, kasi kung gagamit ng tubig at enclosed area dapat matibay-tibay. Kung gagamit ng metal baka naman nakawin," Nacianceno said.
Metro-bango? Aside from repainting the old male urinals green, MMDA also promises to remove the stench emanating from what many consider as eyesores in Manila’s main thoroughfares. “Ako'y napagalitan ni (MMDA) Chairman (Oscar) Inocentes dun sa male urinal kasi mababaho dahil binobomba namin ng disinfectant. We will probably assign mga metro aide namin in that area, teach them how to clean these," Nacianceno said. “Pinagalitan ko rin ang mga tao ko, kasi talagang there is no reason na maging mabaho. We are promising na ito'y magiging maayos ang amoy," he added. The pink urinals are notorious for their stench. Many of these are not well-planned, such that the pipe simply leads to the sidewalk and not the canal. Also, these are not always used properly, as some users do not aim well enough, or perhaps not at all.
Pedestrians cover their noses as they walk past an overflowing MMDA male pink urinal along Edsa in Quezon City. Joe Galvez
“Everyday we have people monitoring, every so many hours to check whether yung sa male urinal pa lang e dapat ma-perfect namin yun para sa ganun, sa female comfort room ay mapasigurado natin at mapakita natin na kaya natin," he said. In contrast to the reaction on female urinals, many male motorists are grateful for the pink urinals. “When you gotta go, you gotta go," said Jonathan, a motorcycle rider. Oliver, a biker, makes it a point to use the pink urinal along EDSA near Estrella in Makati every time he passes it on his way home. “That’s our taxes right there," he says.
Unnecessary expense? 
The shape of pee. Mexican designer Miguel Melgarejo conceptualized this ceramic male urinal to help minimize the stench and maintain cleanliness in the streets. Photo from The Design Blog To improve public toilets, the MMDA could draw inspiration from a
new design for male urinals, which features a solution that looks like useful MMDA art, or
a website on female urinals which has a wealth of information on the topic.
No flushing needed. This male urinal has a hygienic liquid that acts as a deodorant barrier for urine. Photo from The Design Blog This early, the MMDA is already receiving opposition to the female urinals project due to possible negative consequences on women. “Baka ma-expose pa sila sa mga risks, sa unnecessary kahihiyan, embarrassment dahil gagamitin nila ang urinals along the highway. Sa panahon na ito, ‘di malabo na pagmulan pa ito ng samu't saring scandal," said Gabriela Partylist Rep. Luzviminda Ilagan in an interview on Saksi. But Nacianceno defended the MMDA, saying the agency welcomes suggestions from women on the appropriate design of the female urinals. “Ang Gabriela nagre-react sila, hindi pa naman nila alam yung design. Sana they would suggest," he said. “Before they object they should first try to talk to us and find out exactly anong gagawin. I think it would be good that we are sensitive to the requirements of the women."
Privacy not guaranteed. A young girl peeks as her father relieves himself inside an MMDA male urinal. Joe Galvez
He said the agency had been criticized for lack of gender sensitivity when they installed pink urinals under former MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando. “At that time, we were being asked, dahil lalaki kami hindi namin iniisip yung kapakanan ng mga babae. The new management has decided to have one for women also," he said. “Kung pag-uusapan ang pangangailangan, a facility for women, talagang dapat ituloy," said Nacianceno. “Do women not want this?" –
YA, GMANews.TV 
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