Tired or don't have enough fare to go home in Manila, Philippines? No worries, as the Philippine government on Labor Day inaugurated a four-story, 700-bed "workers inn" where urban workers can stay for the night and have a bath for just $0.52.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo launched the "Gwapotel: Tulugan sa Bayan" (sleeping quarters for the masses), a dormitory-style bed-and-bad facility. The project, jointly undertaken by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the National Power Corporation, provides transients with a room for 10 hours for $0.52.

Gwapotel is strategically located in the former Napocor Building along Bonifacio Drive in Port Area, Manila.

The president was joined by MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, Napocor Chairman Cyril del Callar and Department of Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro in the ceremonial unveiling and ribbon-cutting activities formally opening the facility to the public.

According to Fernando, the 700-bed Gwapotel was conceptualized under the president's pro-poor program to provide clean and affordable living quarters to every Filipino, particularly provincial residents who work in Metro Manila.

Fernando said that under PGMA's Worker's Inn program, the Gwapotel is designed to provide an affordable, albeit temporary, sleeping and bathing facility for workers whose homes are not within convenient commuting distance to their workplaces in Metro Manila.

"Gwapotel will provide relief and added rest time to workers who need to commute daily to and from their residences in the provinces," Fernando said.

The third and fourth floors of the Gwapotel are allocated to provide sleeping and bathing facilities for men while the second floor is for female guests.

A vendors' market on the ground floor of the building will house sellers of food and basic necessities.

Guests are charged $0.52 for a 10-hour stay, which includes a bath. Upon payment, the customer is given a token that he or she uses to activate a token-operated shower. The shower is good for about 40 liters of water, or about eight minutes of continuously running water.