Engr. Zmel Grabillo, Maynilad SAVP and Head, Wastewater Management Division;Engr. Patrick Dizon, MWSS-CO Acting Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Technical Operations;Atty. Patrick Lester Ty, MWSS-RO Chief Regulator; Ar. Loyd R. Enriquez, Muntinlupa City GovernmentActing City Architect;Engr. DynadelleN. Aranda,Muntinlupa City GovernmentCity Engineer/Acting Building Official;Ms. Lorna B. Misa, Muntinlupa City GovernmentActing Head, Environmental Protection & Natural Resource Office/Lake Management Office/Environmental Sanitation Center;Ms. Catherine Buena, LLDA Assistant General Manager; Ms. Marie Antonette De Ocampo, Maynilad SAVP and Head of Corporate Affairs & Communication; and Mr. Randolph T. Estrellado, Maynilad Chief Operating Officer.
The Muntinlupa City Government shone brightly at the 2024 Oro Inodoro Awards, earning two prestigious trophies, including the Grand Winner Award, for its exceptional public restrooms.
The awards celebrated the country’s best restrooms across three major categories: Offices and Schools, Commercial and Retail, and Parks and Terminals. Muntinlupa LGU emerged victorious in the Offices and Schools category, besting the University of Santo Tomas and Manila Broadcasting Company.
The award-winning restroom of Muntinlupa City Hall displays aesthetics and cleanliness, but most importantly, it’s backed by sound wastewater management.
Winners across categories
In the Commercial and Retail category, Calle Café, a popular restaurant in España, Manila, claimed the top spot, surpassing Okada Manila’s Grand Ballroom and Cleanfuel’s C5 Amvel branch.
Palacio De Memoria, a cultural landmark in Parañaque, won the Parks and Terminals category, edging out Vista Terminal Exchange and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
Special awards were also given, with the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) earning the Banyo ng Bayan (People’s Choice Award) through social media votes. Meanwhile, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf received the Banyo Para Sa Lahat award for inclusivity and accessibility, recognizing features that cater to differently-abled individuals, various gender expressions, and parents needing childcare facilities like diaper-changing stations.
Celebrating excellence in public restrooms
Winners received cash prizes, with the Grand Winner earning ₱30,000, while category and unique award winners took home ₱10,000 each. The awarding ceremony was held on November 19 at Rizal Park Hotel, Manila, coinciding with the United Nations’ World Toilet Day celebration.
Marie Antonette De Ocampo, Senior Assistant Vice President and Head of Corporate Affairs and Communication at Maynilad, highlighted the role of public restrooms in promoting dignity and hygiene.
“The Oro Inodoro Awards remind us that public restrooms reflect our collective values and commitment to providing safe, dignified spaces for all. By recognizing these exceptional establishments, we set a benchmark for others and reinforce hygiene and sanitation as cornerstones of a healthier Metro Manila,” she said.
Maynilad Chief Operating Officer Randolph Estrellado echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the communal responsibility for sanitation. “Clean public restrooms do more than provide convenience—they promote public health and dignity. Maintaining these spaces is a shared effort that requires collaboration from government agencies, private organizations, and everyone who uses them,” he stated.
Commitment to hygiene and sustainability
Since its inception in 2016, the Oro Inodoro Awards, formerly known as the Golden Kubeta Awards, has recognized public restrooms prioritizing comfort, cleanliness, accessibility, wastewater management, and eco-friendly practices.
Engr. Zmel Grabillo, SAVP and Head of the Wastewater Management Division at Maynilad praised finalists for their commitment to sustainability.
“Institutions with their sewage treatment plants demonstrate responsible wastewater management, which protects the environment and community,” he noted.
The 2024 Oro Inodoro Awards accepted nominations via the Kubeta PH Facebook page. A panel of experts evaluated the finalists.
The awards serve as a reminder of the vital role clean public restrooms play in fostering healthier, more sustainable communities.