The anti-COVID-19 discrimination ordinance of 2020
Published Apr 5, 2020 12:00 am
BATANG MAYNILA
By MAYOR ISKO MORENO
Mayor Isko Moreno
It had been an eventful week once again for Manila amid the battle against COVID-19, as we in the city government continue fast-tracking the delivery of food packs to the city’s some 350,000 families or 1.8 million citizens. Although we have managed to reach out to over 200,000 families over the weekend as a result of the 24/7 efforts, we have such a long way to go.
The city government of Manila has no problem with money and repacking efforts since modesty aside, we were able to plan ahead of time. The problem however, lies mainly with the arrival of ordered supplies which is quite understandable given the slowdown in production everywhere. We ask for the indulgence of the residents and vow that as soon as the supplies arrive, they are immediately sent out to cover those who have not gotten their food packs.
More importantly, over the weekend, I am profusely thankful to the Manila City Council, headed by my equally tireless Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna as its Presiding Officer, President Pro Tempore Ernesto ‘Jong’’ Isip, Jr. and Majority Floorleader Joel Chua and the entire membership of the City Council, for acting expeditiously on my personal request for the passage of a city ordinance that would make it unlawful for anyone to subject healthcare workers and COVID 19 patients or possible patients to any form of discrimination or stigmatization.
Particularly, Ordinance 8624 “prohibits any person from committing any act or utterance which causes stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation, harassment or otherwise discriminating against a person infected, under monitoring or investigation due to the COVID-19 virus including public and private doctors, nurses, health workers, emergency personnel and volunteers, service workers who are assigned to hospitals or other center where these persons are being treated and imposing the appropriate penalties therein.” Violators shall be fined P5,000 or face imprisonment not exceeding six months or both at the court’s discretion. If the offender is a public officer, the maximum penalty herein shall be imposed.
I pushed for the passage of this ordinance, now known as the “Anti- COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020,” noting with much dismay reports that as the number of COVID-19 rises, we have seen instances of public stigmatization among persons who have contracted the disease, including persons under investigation (PUIs) or persons under monitoring (PUMs).
Lamentably, there is also a rise in harmful stereotyping. This means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated and or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease. Stigmatization could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination or prevent people from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviors.
And then, there have been several reported incidents of people being evicted out of their residences.
In the case of patients who have recovered, there are reports that some of them were prevented from returning back to their residences, while some were even doused with water or bleaching solutions and refused services in available eateries or transportations over fears of infection. Some were shunned by local stores, boarding houses and even their own barangays and homes.
Thus, any one who does this, even any public officer who refuses or fails to give assistance to a person infected, under investigation or monitoring due to COVID-19, health worker or frontliner who intends to return to his place of residence or domicile after obtaining clearance of the infection from the proper health officials, shall be answerable to the law.
To make matters worse, there are also several false and inaccurate social media posts even circulated online, spreading names of people alleged to have been infected with COVID-19 and urging the recipients to check if they had contact with those listed in the said posts, so those engaging in this are now also liable under the ordinance.
Considering the gravity of the situation, 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 government to bring normalcy and order amidst the crisis and protect its constituency from unjust discrimination brought on by fear and panic by the public.
Families who are affected by this pandemic suffer severe anxiety and social humiliation hence, it is the policy of the City Government of Manila to act as “parens patria” during these trying times, by showing compassion, empathy and tolerance towards its affected constituents, as this virus can infect any person regardless of race, age, sex or social standing.
It is only through a united front, strengthened by our religious conviction, can we fight and end this pandemic. Let us put an end to all these meanness.
Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!
Mayor Isko Moreno
It had been an eventful week once again for Manila amid the battle against COVID-19, as we in the city government continue fast-tracking the delivery of food packs to the city’s some 350,000 families or 1.8 million citizens. Although we have managed to reach out to over 200,000 families over the weekend as a result of the 24/7 efforts, we have such a long way to go.
The city government of Manila has no problem with money and repacking efforts since modesty aside, we were able to plan ahead of time. The problem however, lies mainly with the arrival of ordered supplies which is quite understandable given the slowdown in production everywhere. We ask for the indulgence of the residents and vow that as soon as the supplies arrive, they are immediately sent out to cover those who have not gotten their food packs.
More importantly, over the weekend, I am profusely thankful to the Manila City Council, headed by my equally tireless Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna as its Presiding Officer, President Pro Tempore Ernesto ‘Jong’’ Isip, Jr. and Majority Floorleader Joel Chua and the entire membership of the City Council, for acting expeditiously on my personal request for the passage of a city ordinance that would make it unlawful for anyone to subject healthcare workers and COVID 19 patients or possible patients to any form of discrimination or stigmatization.
Particularly, Ordinance 8624 “prohibits any person from committing any act or utterance which causes stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation, harassment or otherwise discriminating against a person infected, under monitoring or investigation due to the COVID-19 virus including public and private doctors, nurses, health workers, emergency personnel and volunteers, service workers who are assigned to hospitals or other center where these persons are being treated and imposing the appropriate penalties therein.” Violators shall be fined P5,000 or face imprisonment not exceeding six months or both at the court’s discretion. If the offender is a public officer, the maximum penalty herein shall be imposed.
I pushed for the passage of this ordinance, now known as the “Anti- COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020,” noting with much dismay reports that as the number of COVID-19 rises, we have seen instances of public stigmatization among persons who have contracted the disease, including persons under investigation (PUIs) or persons under monitoring (PUMs).
Lamentably, there is also a rise in harmful stereotyping. This means that people are being labelled, stereotyped, separated and or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the disease. Stigmatization could drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination or prevent people from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviors.
And then, there have been several reported incidents of people being evicted out of their residences.
In the case of patients who have recovered, there are reports that some of them were prevented from returning back to their residences, while some were even doused with water or bleaching solutions and refused services in available eateries or transportations over fears of infection. Some were shunned by local stores, boarding houses and even their own barangays and homes.
Thus, any one who does this, even any public officer who refuses or fails to give assistance to a person infected, under investigation or monitoring due to COVID-19, health worker or frontliner who intends to return to his place of residence or domicile after obtaining clearance of the infection from the proper health officials, shall be answerable to the law.
To make matters worse, there are also several false and inaccurate social media posts even circulated online, spreading names of people alleged to have been infected with COVID-19 and urging the recipients to check if they had contact with those listed in the said posts, so those engaging in this are now also liable under the ordinance.
Considering the gravity of the situation, 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 government to bring normalcy and order amidst the crisis and protect its constituency from unjust discrimination brought on by fear and panic by the public.
Families who are affected by this pandemic suffer severe anxiety and social humiliation hence, it is the policy of the City Government of Manila to act as “parens patria” during these trying times, by showing compassion, empathy and tolerance towards its affected constituents, as this virus can infect any person regardless of race, age, sex or social standing.
It is only through a united front, strengthened by our religious conviction, can we fight and end this pandemic. Let us put an end to all these meanness.
Walang magmamalasakit sa Maynila kundi tayo ding mga Batang Maynila. Manila, God first!
***
For updates on latest developments in the city of Manila, please visit my Facebook account — “Isko Moreno Domagoso.”