James Kon
Of the 50 public toilets audited from January to June this year, only one received Grade A (fulfilling all four criteria) while 24 in various locations received Grade B (meets important needs), 18 in Grade C (some parts needed repairs as soon as possible) and seven in Grade D (unsafe for use), according to findings.
The public toilet with Grade A is located at a shopping centre.
These details were revealed by tourism officer Affandi bin Haji Alias in his capacity as a member of the Technical Committee Tourism Services Standards in a presentation at the socialisation programme on PBD 32:2017 Tourism Services Standard – Public Restrooms at the Theatre Hall, Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) yesterday.
The socialisation’s objective is to introduce Piawai Brunei Darussalam (PBD) under PBD 32:2017 – Tourism Services Standard: Public Restrooms providing basic guidelines and to ensure the cleanliness of public toilets.
This standard is a reference from the ASEAN Public Toilet Standard focussing on four main criteria – design and environmental management system; amenities and facilities; cleanliness; and safety.
Acting Deputy Director of the Tourism Development Department Emmilia Watiqah binti Abdullah Jemming, who is also the Standard Committee on Tourism Deputy Chairperson emphasised the importance of PBD 32:2017, adding that its aim is to create awareness on the importance of cleanliness of public toilets, which indirectly supports a sustainable tourism industry in Brunei Darussalam in terms of tourists’ comfort.
She hoped that the National Standards Centre (NSC) will continue its efforts to assist technical committees to develop standards following international standards to meet industry needs.
The session also shared the roles and development process of standards and their benefits to the industries and health aspects of the PBD.
These details were presented by NSC Special Duties Officer Grade II Pengiran Abdul Shahid bin Pengiran Haji Amir Bahar and Environmental Health and Surveillance Unit Public Health Officer Hajah Rohhuzaimah binti Haji Yahya.
Organised by the MoFE through the NSC, Industry and Business Ecosystem Division (IBE) in collaboration with Tourism Development Department, of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), the event was attended by IBE Director Allen On in his capacity as NSC Acting Director and senior officials.
The session among others shared the roles and development process of standards and its benefits to the industries as well as the technical and health aspects of the PBD.
Participants numbering 54 from stakeholders of various government and private agencies, the Ministry of Health, Village Consultative Council (MPK)/ Mukim Consultative Council (MPM) and owners and representatives from business premises in Brunei Darussalam attended the socialisation.
It concluded with the selling of PBD 32:2017 to realise the initiatives of both the NSC and the Tourism Development Department.
