Maynilad Water Services Inc. celebrated World Toilet Day by recognizing the country’s best public restrooms through the 2025 Oro Inodoro Awards, the company’s nationwide initiative promoting sanitation excellence, accessibility and proper wastewater management.

Formerly known as the Golden Kubeta Awards, the revamped Oro Inodoro Awards now serve as Maynilad’s national benchmark for sanitation standards. The search expanded this year to include five sectors — public offices and spaces, hotels and malls, gas stations and transport hubs, schools and universities, and restaurants and cafés — to widen participation and set a more comprehensive evaluation of public restrooms across the Philippines.

Maynilad said the program is anchored on a commitment to public health and sustainable sanitation, stressing that clean and wastewater-compliant restrooms are essential in high-foot-traffic areas and public facilities.

Valenzuela City Hall emerged as the Grand Winner and also topped the Public Offices and Spaces category for offering hotel-style restrooms designed to be accessible to all.

Other category victors included Kiddie Loo at NOMO in Bacoor for hotels and malls; Shell Mobility Vista Verde Molino for gas stations and transport hubs; Philippine Women’s University for schools and universities; and Hanan Coffee Brewers in Bataan for restaurants and cafés. Casa Elmira in Parañaque received the Banyo Para Sa Lahat citation for its gender-inclusive and PWD-friendly facilities, while One Ayala UV Terminal in Makati earned the Banyo ng Bayan award through public voting.

All entries underwent auditing by a panel of experts from Maynilad’s wastewater, engineering, inspection and waste management divisions. Winners were recognized during a ceremony at Conrad Manila on 19 November, with the overall champion receiving P30,000 and other category honorees taking home P10,000 each.

Maynilad President and CEO Ramoncito S. Fernandez emphasized that the evaluation looked beyond surface-level cleanliness, pointing out that wastewater compliance and sanitation systems were crucial deciding factors. Maynilad vice president for Corporate Affairs and Communication Marie Antonette de Ocampo praised the finalists for showing that excellence is possible regardless of foot traffic or budget. “You show that it is possible to create clean, safe, inclusive, and sustainably managed facilities for your patrons — even under high foot traffic, even with limited resources. This is what leadership in sanitation looks like,” she said.