THE Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines announced Monday its has completed the construction of restrooms designed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transexual persons at 35 commercial airports under its control.
CAAP spokesman and chief information officer Eric Apolonio said the toilets are part of the agency’s Gender Awareness Development program so that anyone can use the restroom regardless of gender identity or expression.
The program will continuously encourage gender awareness and sensitivity among CAAP employees nationwide as required by Republic Act 9710, the Magna Carta of Women and Executive Order 273, otherwise known as the Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development, Apolonio said.
The toilets will be clearly marked as all-gender facilities, Apolonio said, and would be rolled out gradually, beginning with Busuanga airport in Palawan.
On Sunday, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is planning to create a commission for the LGBT community.
Duterte said that he wants an honest and hardworking person to head the LGBT commission and set a deadline for nominees until the second week of January.
“Talk among yourselves. Nominate who is honest and hardworking. I would like to show that any gay or lesbian can work just like an ordinary human being,” he said.
During his trip to Vietnam in March, Duterte said he was against same-sex marriage, saying the law only recognizes unions between a man and a woman.
He added the country is predominantly Catholic and would not support such unions.
But in his same speech at Davao City Sunday night, Duterte said he would consider legalizing same sex marriages.
“I am in favor of same-sex marriage. The problem is we have to change the law,” Duterte told an LGBT gathering Sunday night.
“If that is the trend of the modern times, if that will add to your happiness, I am all for it,” he added.