By Analou De Vera The Department of Health (DOH) has urged local government units (LGUs) to pass an ordinance that would protect both patients and health workers from discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemics. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire cited Manila City government's Ordinance No. 8624 or the Anti COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020, which prohibits discriminatory acts against persons under invetsigation (PUIs) and frontliners. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario S. Vergeire (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) “This is a necessary step toward avoiding unfair treatment and crimes against our countrymen who are victims of this virus, including our frontliners who are instrumental in our fight against COVID-19,” said Vergeire. She said that they are receiving reports of frontliners who experienced discrimination and harassment. “We strongly condemn these acts. Our healthcare workers and other frontliners are helping our country survive this crisis,” Vergeire said. “Instead of turning our backs on them and hurting them because we are scared of getting infected, we need to give them thanks and celebrate them. match their dedication and service to our country,” she added. The DOH, in a previous statement, said that there were reports of health workers being refused access to basic services such as public transport and laundry, or who are blocked and fined at checkpoints, evicted from their homes, as well as suffering physical attacks such as “being bleach and with chlorine.” The DOH then said that LGUs are among the “first line of defense in protecting our healthcare workers and keeping them safe from harm and discrimination.”