By Joseph Almer Pedrajas 

The local government of Manila has moved to protect its people from "stigmatization" brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) through passing an ordinance that will penalize anyone discriminating against people suspected of, or afflicted with, the disease as well as health workers and other frontliners.

Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
(Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Under Ordinance No. 8624 or the "Anti-COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020," authorities can impose a fine or send you to jail, or both, if proven to have committed any act that causes "stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation and harassment" against these people.

This came after Manila Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso requested to the city council to come up with a new measure to address such concern, and that will be implemented in the city.

In passing the ordinance, the council expressed belief that "families who are affected by this pandemic suffer severe anxiety and social humiliation," and that "there is an urgent need to combat this pervasive stigmatization on the basis of one's medical condition."

"There is a need for the city to bring normalcy and order amidst the crisis and protect its constituency from unjust discrimination brought on by fear and panic by public," part of the four-page ordinance, which was passed Thursday, read.

The measure will also penalize any public officer who will refuse or fail to give assistance to COVID-19 patients, health workers and other front liners, who intend "to return to place of residence or domicile after obtaining clearance of the COVID-19 infection from the proper health officials."

Claiming in public, posting on social media, spreading or announcing that someone is positive, investigated or monitored for the disease is now also illegal, according to the ordinance.

"This is also to avoid what some barangay chairmen and officials were doing, that they were announcing COVID-19 cases without even letting those in authority to do it first," Moreno said.

Those who will be caught violating the measure will have to pay a P5,000 fine or face imprisonment for up to six months, or both "at the discretion of the court."

"If the person violating is a public officer, the penalty imposed shall be in its maximum and can also be a ground for filing of an administrative case," the measure added.

The passing of the ordinance came after a COVID-19 patient renting an apartment in Tondo, Manila had been denied entry into their barangay by his neighbors on March 30 after health officers sent him home to undergo home quarantine instead, supposedly due to lack of facilities. A Manila councilor even went to the area to settle the incident.

"It's really saddening to read stories ," Moreno said.

"As the father of the city, I will not let you fight against each other because of the crisis that we are suffering and will have suffered," Moreno added, saying the ordinance will take effect even after the COVID-19 outbreak.