Rokiah Mahmud
The Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) thorough National Standards Centre (NSC), Industry and Business Ecosystem Division (IBE) in collaboration with Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) held the second socialisation programme at Tutong Community Complex on Wednesday.
The programme aimed at sharing information for PBD 32:2017 Tourism Services Standard – Public Restrooms and to introduce the Piawai Brunei Darussalam (PBD) under PBD 32:2017 – Tourism Services Standard; Public Restrooms to provide basic guidelines and to ensure cleanliness of public toilets.
The standard is a reference from the ASEAN Public Toilet Standard that focusses on four main criteria including design and environmental management system, amenities and facilities, cleanliness and safety.
Acting Director of Tourism Development Department Emmilia Watiqah binti Abdullah Jemming, in her capacity as Deputy Chairperson of the Standard Committee on Tourism, emphasised on the importance of PBD 32:2017 that aimed at providing awareness on the importance of cleanliness of public toilets. The event was also in conjunction with the World Toilet Day on November 19.
“This indirectly helps support a sustainable tourism industry within the Sultanate particularly in terms of providing comfort for our tourists.
“Moreover, it is hoped that NSC would continue with its effort of assisting technical committees to develop standards which are in line with international guidelines, to meet the needs of each particular industry,” she said.
The session also shared the roles and development process of standards and its benefits to the industries, as well as touching upon the technical and health aspects of the PBD.
Around 63 participants from government and private agencies stakeholders – the Ministry of ealth, Village Consultative Council (MPK) and Mukim Consultative Council (MPM) as well as owners and representatives from businesses premises in the country attended the programme.
