MANILA, Philippines ? Soon, women will have their own pink urinals.

An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday said there were also plans to put up toilets for women along Edsa following the establishment of urinals for male drivers.

MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno said women?s restrooms, which would be situated underneath footbridges on the major thoroughfare, was one of the agency?s proposed projects for this year.

?These [women?s urinals] would be difficult to maintain so [MMDA] Chairman Oscar Inocencio is hoping to get the help of sponsors from government agencies like Pagcor [Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.] or private and nongovernment organizations,? he said during yesterday?s ?MMDA sa GMA? radio program.

The MMDA first installed pink urinals for men along Edsa, particularly for the large number of bus drivers who pass through the main thoroughfare daily.

Nacianceno said the women?s urinals would be a challenge for the MMDA since apart from maintenance, its design should also ensure the security of its users.

?Unlike the male urinals that only need water, the female urinals will be different. The chairman instructed us to keep it clean. If we have done that with the Gwapotel, we?re hoping to have the same standard of cleanliness with the urinals as well,? he said.

He was referring to a hotel in Manila being run by the MMDA which provides cheap but decent lodging for transients.

Nacianceno said the Gwapotel, a name coined by former MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando, will soon be called MMDA Hotel or PGMA Workers Inn after the President.