A Problem with Comfort Room Cubicle Door Locks

1.Condition For both Girls’ and Boys’ CRs, cubicle door locks are damaged and they remain
unfixed.
2.Criteria P.D. 856 – Code on Sanitation of the Philippines
- Sanitary facilities in the school shall be properly designed and installed.

ASEAN Public Toilet Standard

-Cubicles should have lockable doors for privacy. All exterior, interior and fixtures
must be securely fastened such as locks.
-Toilet operators/managers/owners must practice regular cleaning and maintenance
on the toilets (e.g. replacements of broken locks, mirror, etc.).

DOH School Sanitation and Health Services

-Toilet rooms shall be properly enclosed.

A Guide to a Better Public Toilet Design and Maintenance

-Cubicle doors shall be fitted with latches, sliding dead-bolts or other similar
locking device.
3.Cause The repairs and maintenance for the CRs are overlooked. Upon cleaning, no
immediate action is made even when the assigned personnel noticed the defect in
the doors.

Facility and sanitary inspections are rarely conducted. The administration takes
action only upon request or complaint of students and teachers.
4.Effect There is a possible breach of users’ right to privacy. To avoid such breach, users are
inconvenienced , as in the following cases:

a) One has to ask a friend to keep the door closed.

b) If no friend is around, one has to hold on to the door while using the toilet,
which poses a risk of letting the door go.
c) To avoid aforementioned risk, one will instead go look for another cubicle,
or another CR if the cubicles are full.
5.Recommendation For the University administration:
a) Inspection of comfort rooms should be conducted atleast once every week.
b) If damages are found, action should be promptly made.
c) Comfort rooms should be outfitted with locks and fixtures that are long-
lasting.
d) Cleaning personnel must be properly oriented about proper dissemination
of any information regarding comfort rooms damages.

For the Faculty/Department:

a) Coordinate closely with the students, especially with the Student officers
(JPIA BOD, SSC) regarding any damages in the facilities. Usually, in
addressing a letter to the administration, a faculty must sign it as a show of
support and validation of the students’ complaint.
b) Orient the students as to proper way of reaching out to the University
administration in expressing their complaints about CR damages and also
in other facilities.

For the students through JPIA and SSC :

a) They should work closely with the faculty/department as mentioned
previously.
b) They should help in disseminating information as to the responsible use of
Comfort Rooms and how students can report any damages to the
administration.
c) Students, and all other users, should carefully use the locks so as not to
damage them.
 CRs in the GR building

This cubicle does not have any lock at A lock with missing parts
all

Another cubicle with no lock and with a A gap between the door and the division
loose door per cubicle