MANILA, Philippines — Everyone deserves a good release—but the difference between bliss and misery can be a split-second choice of where you go. Thankfully, more establishments are proving that decent facilities shouldn’t be a coin flip, but a right enjoyed by all.
Started in 2016 and formerly known as the Golden Kubeta Awards, Maynilad’s Oro Inodoro Awards is an annual campaign recognizing the nation’s best public restrooms; clean, inclusive and sustainably managed because Filipinos deserve nothing less.
The campaign also champions the importance of well-maintained facilities for those with pamamahay or shy bladder syndrome, which affects 2.8% to 16.4% of the population, promoting restrooms that prioritize public health and human dignity.
This year, the Oro Inodoro Awards expands its categories from last year’s three— Offices & Schools, Commercial & Retail, and Parks & Terminals—into more diversified divisions, namely, Public Offices & Spaces, Schools & Universities, Restaurants & Cafes, Hotels & Malls, and Gas Stations & Transportation Hubs. This change gives more chances for public restrooms to be recognized and experienced by those seeking hygienic, inclusive spaces that follow the best sanitation practices.
Winners will be determined on three criteria: Aesthetics, Cleanliness, and Wastewater Management, considering visual appeal, regular maintenance, water efficiency, and eco-friendly practices. As both a water solutions provider and champion for the environment, Maynilad stressed that good restrooms are more than just looks.
“We want to keep the mission and tradition of the Oro Inodoro Awards alive,” said Marie Antonette De Ocampo, VP and Head of Maynilad’s Corporate Affairs and Communication Division. “We aim to highlight how sanitation facilities like public restrooms can both be a celebration of human dignity and best practices in wastewater management.”
The Grand Winner from the winning category will take home P30,000, while four other category winners will receive P10,000 each. Winners for the Banyo Para Sa Lahat and Banyo ng Bayan awards will also be given P10,000 each.
Banyo Para Sa Lahat is a special award given to public restrooms with inclusivity features in mind, while Banyo ng Bayan is the People’s Choice Award, determined by social media votes.
In 2024, the Oro Inodoro Awards recognized the Muntinlupa City Hall, Calle Café, and Palacio de Memoria, showing that no one type or size of establishment has a monopoly on what makes a good public restroom. Ayala Malls Cloverleaf won the Banyo Para Sa Lahat award for having inclusive features such as accessibility for persons with disabilities and people with various gender expressions, while the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) won the popular vote, earning it the Banyo ng Bayan distinction.
If you know of a public restroom that deserves the Oro Inodoro recognition, you can either:
● Comment your nomination on the Kubeta PH Facebook page with the location and hashtag #OroInodoroAwards2025 or
● Post in the Let’s CR, Pare Facebook group with the location and hashtag #OroInodoroAwards2025
Nominations are open only until September 22, so don’t miss the chance to put your favorite restroom in the spotlight. Winners will be revealed on November 19, in time for World Toilet Day.