Hontiveros urges LGUS to penalize discrimination of frontliners
Published Apr 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Hannah Torregoza
Senator Risa Hontiveros on Tuesday urged local government officials to pass and implement measures to better protect health workers and other frontliners from discrimination.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson
(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Hontiveros said local government units (LGUs) should pass ordinances against the rising incidence of health workers being denied entry into their communities or places of residence by neighbors, dormitory or apartment owners, and even barangay officials. “There is no health without health workers. They and other frontliners are heroes and should be treated with respect and compassion, not hate and suspicion,” Hontiveros said. “Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang ating mga frontliners na lubos na nagsasakripisyo para iligtas ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan ay nagiging biktima pa ng diskriminasyon mula mismo sa kanilang mga komunidad, (It’s unacceptable that our own front liners who are sacrificing their lives for our people are the ones victims of discrimination from their own communities),” she added. The senator said an anti-discrimination ordinance for the protection of health workers and other frontliners in the time of COVID-19 should also establish clear mechanisms for the reporting and redress of grievances. “This measure should also penalize acts of discrimination in order to fully support our health workers and other frontliners in the conduct of their duty,” she said. She pointed out that anti-discrimination ordinances for health workers are already being implemented in Manila, Parañaque, and Iloilo City, while similar ordinances are being deliberated by other LGUs. The senator maintained that ordinances will be one of the most effective and expedient ways to address the problem. Nevertheless, she said she will file a bill penalizing acts of violence and discrimination against health workers and frontliners, once the Senate session resumes in May. She said she will file the measure as an amendment to the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act or Republic Act 11332. Hontiveros said the recent spate of violent acts against health workers due to COVID-related fears, including that of an ambulance driver who was shot in Quezon province, and a health worker who was attacked in Sultan Kudarat, is already alarming. “It’s alarming and unacceptable. We should work towards eliminating future violent incidents against health workers,” Hontiveros said. “All levels of government should work together to ensure that our frontliners can perform their noble duties, free from violence or discrimination by misinformed or hysterical individuals," she stressed. She, likewise, encouraged LGUs to follow the recommendations set by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to better protect frontliners, such as deploying more law enforcement agents in the vicinity of hospitals, providing free transport to health workers, and keeping streets leading to medical facilities well-lit. "Hindi sapat ang ating pasasalamat sa ating mga frontliners kung hahayaan lang natin silang masaktan o maabuso (Our gratitude to our frontliners is not enough if we would just let them be abused or be injured),” she said. “Let us repay the hard work and selflessness of Filipinos fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that they are safe and welcome in our communities," she stressed.
Sen. Panfilo Lacson(Senate of the Philippines / MANILA BULLETIN) Hontiveros said local government units (LGUs) should pass ordinances against the rising incidence of health workers being denied entry into their communities or places of residence by neighbors, dormitory or apartment owners, and even barangay officials. “There is no health without health workers. They and other frontliners are heroes and should be treated with respect and compassion, not hate and suspicion,” Hontiveros said. “Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang ating mga frontliners na lubos na nagsasakripisyo para iligtas ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan ay nagiging biktima pa ng diskriminasyon mula mismo sa kanilang mga komunidad, (It’s unacceptable that our own front liners who are sacrificing their lives for our people are the ones victims of discrimination from their own communities),” she added. The senator said an anti-discrimination ordinance for the protection of health workers and other frontliners in the time of COVID-19 should also establish clear mechanisms for the reporting and redress of grievances. “This measure should also penalize acts of discrimination in order to fully support our health workers and other frontliners in the conduct of their duty,” she said. She pointed out that anti-discrimination ordinances for health workers are already being implemented in Manila, Parañaque, and Iloilo City, while similar ordinances are being deliberated by other LGUs. The senator maintained that ordinances will be one of the most effective and expedient ways to address the problem. Nevertheless, she said she will file a bill penalizing acts of violence and discrimination against health workers and frontliners, once the Senate session resumes in May. She said she will file the measure as an amendment to the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act or Republic Act 11332. Hontiveros said the recent spate of violent acts against health workers due to COVID-related fears, including that of an ambulance driver who was shot in Quezon province, and a health worker who was attacked in Sultan Kudarat, is already alarming. “It’s alarming and unacceptable. We should work towards eliminating future violent incidents against health workers,” Hontiveros said. “All levels of government should work together to ensure that our frontliners can perform their noble duties, free from violence or discrimination by misinformed or hysterical individuals," she stressed. She, likewise, encouraged LGUs to follow the recommendations set by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to better protect frontliners, such as deploying more law enforcement agents in the vicinity of hospitals, providing free transport to health workers, and keeping streets leading to medical facilities well-lit. "Hindi sapat ang ating pasasalamat sa ating mga frontliners kung hahayaan lang natin silang masaktan o maabuso (Our gratitude to our frontliners is not enough if we would just let them be abused or be injured),” she said. “Let us repay the hard work and selflessness of Filipinos fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that they are safe and welcome in our communities," she stressed.