Officials of the Muntinlupa City government thanked the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) for commending the passage of an ordinance against gender-based sexual harassment.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon and Majority Floor Leader Raul Corro of the City Council issued statements of appreciation to the CHR for lauding the city’s Ordinance 2023-077, or the “Respeto sa Kapwa Muntinlupeño” ordinance.
Mayor Ruffy Biazon, Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac and city councilors (Photos from Muntinlupa PIO, City Council Secretariat)
The ordinance aims to enforce the important provisions of Republic Act No. 11313 (Safe Spaces Act). It was passed by the City Council and signed by Biazon on May 15.
In a statement, the CHR said it “strongly lauds the city government of Muntinlupa for passing City Ordinance No. 2023-077, also known as the ‘Respeto sa Kapwa Muntinlupeño’ ordinance, that aims to castigate and penalize perpetrators of unwanted sexual remarks and actions in public spaces.”
“In an effort to combat all forms of harassment and discrimination, especially towards women and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community, the ordinance is set to punish offenders who commit implicit and explicit homophobic, misogynistic, and sexist comments against citizens of the city of Muntinlupa. Those who are found guilty of the aforementioned offenses will make reparations in accordance with Republic Act No. 11313, otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act,” the CHR added.
“Maraming salamat sa Commission on Human Rights sa kanilang pagkilala sa ipinasa nating ‘Respeto sa Kapwa Muntinlupeño’ ordinance o ang City Ordinance No. 2023-077! (Thank you to the Commission on Human Rights for its recognition of our ‘Respeto sa Kapwa Muntinlupeño’ ordinance o ang City Ordinance No. 2023-077!),” said Biazon.
He added, “Layunin nating maproteksyunan ang bawat isa sa gender-based sexual harassment at itaguyod ang pagrespeto sa kapwa tao. Meron ding personal significance ito sa akin dahil isa ako sa advocate sa pagpapasa ng Safe Spaces Act o RA 11313 na pinaghanguan ng City Ordinance 2023-077 (We aim to protect every person against gender-based sexual harassment and to promote respect for our fellow man. This also has a personal significance for me because I’m one of the advocates for the passage of the Safe Spaces Act or RA 11313, the source of City Ordinance 2023-077).”
Through the ordinance, he said, the city government wants to ensure that every citizen is safe from harassment.
Corro said, “We thank the Commission on Human Rights for commending the City Government of Muntinlupa for passing the ‘Respeto sa Kapwa Muntinlupeño Ordinance.”
“We in the City Council of Muntinlupa are one with the Executive Department led by Mayor Rufino Biazon in inculcating respect for the dignity of every human being regardless of sexual orientation, race or creed,” he said.
He added that “it is our hope that our initiative in local legislation will be replicated in other local government units ( LGUs ) nationwide. It is always our firm belief that we can change our country one LGU at a time.”
LGUs, through local autonomy granted by the Constitution and the New Local Government Code, “can be effective partners of the national government in the attainment of national goals,” he said.
“If every LGU in the country implements our national laws and move in synergy with the national government, we can have a better Philippines and we can look forward to a brighter tomorrow for our citizens and our next generation of Filipinos,” he said.
The ordinance aims “to prevent the occurrence of gender-based sexual harassment in streets and public spaces, online, in workplaces, and in educational and training institutions.”
It defines gender-based sexual harassment on the streets and in public spaces as crimes “committed through any unwanted and uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any person regardless of the motive for committing such action remarks.”
“In an effort to combat all forms of harassment and discrimination, especially towards women and members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) community, the ordinance is set to punish offenders who commit implicit and explicit homophobic, misogynistic, and sexist comments against citizens of the city of Muntinlupa. Those who are found guilty of the aforementioned offenses will make reparations in accordance with Republic Act No. 11313, otherwise known as the Safe Spaces Act,” the CHR said.