Sorry, no toilets exclusively for gays and lesbians in Metro Manila. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) thumbed down Saturday a proposal for the agency to build toilets exclusively for members of the third sex.

MMDA Chairman Oscar Inocentes said they have no plan to put up urinals for gays and lesbians, saying that members of the third sex can freely use the agency’s newly opened green urinals designed for females and the existing men’s urinals anyway.

“A party-list group, through a letter, asked the agency to also put up toilets exclusively for members of the third sex, saying they are being discriminated when they use public toilets. But the urinals are open for them,” Inocentes said.

Meanwhile, the agency is set to build about 50 more female urinals. Inocentes said they have been receiving positive feedbacks, mostly from women, on the newly opened covered urinals for women along Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA).

Inocentes said they are looking at other strategic locations where they can build female urinals which are designed to save female commuters and pedestrians from the trouble of running to distant fast food chains and restaurants to relieve themselves.

“We plan to build more female urinals underneath MRT and LRT stations so they will be accessible to commuters,” said Inocentes.

He urged women to try out the urinals and give suggestions on how the agency can improve the facility.

“I am encouraging the ladies to use this first batch of urinals and give MMDA feedbacks as to their viability. That way we would know which aspects we need to improve,” Inocentes said.

Members of the Rotary Club International Diliman North gave a positive feedback on the female urinals which they used for the first time.

“The female urinals are comfortable to use because you don’t have to flush it. I find it safe and clean with maintenance,” said Rose Imperial, member of the Rotary Club International, Diliman North.

The urinals, colored with shades of green with flower designs, cost about P20,000 each. A polycarbonate roof was used to save electricity.

The facility is covered, with only one cubicle to accommodate just one female inside aimed to thwart bad elements from preying on women.

Initially, the design of the urinal is for two persons, but the agency revised it to secure the safety of the users, especially at night time.

Robert Nacianceno, MMDA general manager and proponent of the project, said the urinals are designed only for urinating, not discharging of feces. It is also designed with a sensor that automatically flushes the urine and takes away the smell of urine.

“The facility is complete with electricity and water for handwashing. The urinals are waterless, so no water flushing is needed,” Nacianceno said.

Use of the female urinal is free, he said, adding that MMDA street sweepers assigned at the area maintain the cleanliness and orderliness of the facility 24 hours a day.