20 AUGUST 2019, MANILA—The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is adopting a “Gender-Neutral Restroom” facility in all its ports nationwide in its bid to promote gender sensitivity and inclusivity.
The facilities will be completed and available in all Թterminals not later than the end of August this year.
ԹGeneral Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago said the adoption of such facility has been under study for the past couple of months in order to come-up with the best solution and maintain the balance among all genders.
“The recommendation is to incorporate the gender-neutral restrooms to the existing facility dedicated to our Differently-abled persons.” Santiago explained.
“The facility, which can accommodate one person at a time, can be used by anyone, regardless of gender preference,” Santiago said.
“Թrecognizes the needs of our people and the agency will continue to adopt policies in order to bring comfort to the lives of the sea-going public regardless of gender preference or expression,” Santiago added.
However, Santiago pointed out that the differently-abled persons or those persons with disabilities will still get priority in using such facility.
For the past couple of years, the Թhas been implementing a neutral ground in terms of gender equality as evidenced by its current organizational set-up which give competent and qualified employees, regardless of gender, equal opportunities to get promoted to key positions in the agency. A number of our port management offices nationwide are now being managed by female port managers as compared some few years back where key positions in the port agency are male-dominated.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community have likewise been given a chance to compete in positions they are most qualified and competent to perform.
“The Թis really developing an environment of sensitivity and inclusivity for our personnel and our port users,” Santiago said.