Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover addresses the state of comfort rooms in various establishments in the city during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, December 20. | Screengrab via Sangguniang Panlungsod Cebu City -Secretariat Facebook live
CEBU CITY, Philippines – “Foul and unhygienic” comfort rooms in various establishments caught the attention of Cebu City Councilor Jun Alcover.
In his privileged speech during the council’s regular session on Wednesday, December 20, he raised concerns about unsanitary comfort rooms in establishments in Cebu City.
“Ako lang gusto ipaabot nga obserbasyon sa mga establishments sa dakbayan, gamay rani nga butang sa atong pag tanaw pero dako kaayo ni ug impact sa atong mga bisita; ang kahugaw sa mga comfort room sa ubang mga establishments,” Alcover stated.
He noted that the “foul and unhygienic” state of comfort rooms would be a concern as the city will expect an influx of visitors exploring malls and other establishments during this festive season leading up to Christmas and Sinulog in January.
“This is a reflection og unsa ka hugaw ang mga establishmento bisan unsa ka gwapo ang mga dayang dayan sa gawas kung hugaw ang mga CR mo reflect gyud na sa personalidad sa establishmento,” he said.
Alcover stressed the need for businesses to recognize that the condition of their comfort rooms reflects the personality and standards of their establishments.
“Naa pay hotel, dako na hotel, niadto [ko] perting bahoa sa comfort room. Nagpa parlor ko, perting gubaa ang comfort room. Gas station, perting bahao, guba pa ang CR. Restaurants hugaw ang comfort rooms,” he stressed.
During his recent rounds in the city, Alcover noted instances of poorly maintained comfort rooms, citing examples of unclean facilities, malfunctioning flush systems, and broken amenities.
These observations were not limited to a single type of business but included hotels, gas stations, and restaurants.
With this, Alcover urged establishments to take responsibility for maintaining the cleanliness of their comfort rooms not only during the holiday season but consistently throughout the year.
He emphasized that collective efforts from both the public and private sectors are crucial to achieving a cleaner and more appealing environment for locals and tourists alike.
Series of actions needed
Moreover, to address the cleanliness concerns raised in his privilege speech, Alcover has proposed a series of actions.
Firstly, he called on business establishments to prioritize and maintain the cleanliness of their comfort rooms, emphasizing the impact it has on the overall impression of the city.
Secondly, he moved to request the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD) to intensify sanitary inspections in major establishments, including malls, tourist spots, and gas stations.
Lastly, he further requested the CCHD to submit a report every 15 days, detailing the results of their sanitary inspections.
Alcover hopes to instigate changes in the cleanliness practices of establishments in Cebu City, creating an environment that aligns with the standards set by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama for a cleaner and more organized city, akin to the renowned cleanliness standards of Singapore.
“If ingana [kahinlo] ang tanang comfort room, makaabot gyud nato ang gitawag ni mayor na Singapore-like [Cebu City],” he said. /clorenciana
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