By HANNAH NICOL
The Quezon City government on Saturday, June 24, launched the "Right to Care” card that will empower resident queer couples to make medical decisions for their partners.
Hannah Nicol / MANILA BULLETIN
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte led the launching ceremony together with the District 3 Councilor Wencerom Lagumay, Atty. Orlando Paolo F. Casimiro of the City Attorney & City Legal Department, Atty. Virginia Viray, PJS Law Member— University of the Philippines (UP) Law Gender and Law Policy Program, and Adrian De Guzman, MullenLowe TREYNA art director.
Mayor Joy expressed her full support on how important this initiative is in recognizing the life-long commitment and right to care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) members to their partners.
“There have been reports of LGBTQIA+ community members who were prohibited from making crucial decisions when their partners were admitted to intensive care units of hospitals,” she added.
Belmonte also wanted to make sure that all the residents, regardless of their personality or identity, can be with their peers in critical moments.
She added that they can consider this as an important step to assure the rainbow community that they are cared for, recognized, and valued in Quezon City.
The City government will implement the “Right to Care" program initially at city government hospitals such as the Quezon City General Hospital, Novaliches District Hospital, and Rosario Maclang Bautista General Hospital.
According to Belmonte, the city government will conduct orientations and seal partnerships with public or private Quezon-City based hospitals.
Abi Aquino, chief creative officer of MullenLowe TREYNA hopes that this collaboration with the city local government can help push the conversation for equal rights for the local LGBTQIA+ community.
“Our agency has always supported equality for all, which is why we hope this initiative will inspire more creatives to give back to the community and make a difference. We stand stronger when we uphold one another’s rights,” Aquino said.
LGBTQIA+ couples who are interested can register for the program through the Quezon City Gender and Development (GAD) Office where they need to fill up forms including the Special Power of Attorney (SPA) contract, which is needed to be notarized as well.
Upon the submission of duly notarized forms, the Quezon City Legal Team will validate the data provided, and once validated, the QC GAD Office shall distribute physical cards with unique QR codes to access the digital copy of their validated SPA contract.
According to the local government, the registered individuals will also be required to attend seminars that will discuss in detail all the rights and benefits that come with the card, further empowering them with the information and legal aspects of the SPA.