CCPO opens “gender neutral” comfort room

CEBU, Philippines —  Gender-neutral comfort rooms at the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) were opened to the public which was aimed at being gender sensitive to the members of the LGBT community. Aside from the two public comfort rooms assigned for men and women at the CCPO, another two rooms were built with a ‘Gender-Neutral’ signage.

The project is in line with the Cebu City Police Office Director Gemma Vinluan’s advocacy on gender sensitivity, according to Police Major Clark Arriola, PIO of the CCPO.

“Sukad pa lang pag-abot sa atong City Director nga si Police Colonel Gemma Vinluan, usa ni sa iyang advocacy na ang atoang headquarters, atong kapolisan sa Cebu City Police office is gender sensitive.” Arriola told reporters.

When asked if why there were gender-neutral comfort rooms, Arriola answered that these restrooms are not just exclusive for the LGBTQIE+ members, but rather for men and women as well.

“Actually ang atoang gender neutral doesn’t necessarily mean nga LGBTQIE+ lang na siya, ang male ug female pwede pud mosulod diri mao ng gitawag na siyang gender neutral,” he said.

Aside from the sensitivity of the other genders, the comfort room is also designed for differently-abled individuals.

“Kung nabantayan ninyo ang atoang entrance diri is naay ramp, so PWD-friendly pud ni atong CR,” Arriola said.

He added that the budget used for the construction of the comfort rooms were not from the government but rather from the stakeholders.

“Actually wala ni sya gikuha from the government ang atoang City Director is nangita syag stake holders outside of the government, so walay budget nga na mis-align nato for the construction of the CR,” he added.

The CR is intended for the visitors of the CCPO specifically for the public and not just for the members of the police. — GAN (FREEMAN)