MMC urges LGUs to impose penalties on discrimination vs health workers, COVID-19 patients
MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Manila Council (MMC) urged local government units (LGUs) to impose a penalty on violence and discrimination against medical workers, Filipino migrant workers and patients positive for coronavirus disease.
In an MMC Resolution No. 20-08 issued on Monday but was made public on Tuesday, the MMC “strongly recommended” to the 17 local legislative councils in Metro Manila to pass an ordinance that would punish those who would discriminate health workers, Overseas Filipino Workers and COVID-19 patients, including persons under investigation and persons under monitoring for the disease.
“The Mayors of National Capital Region, acting in unity with the national government, do hereby strongly recommend to all local legislative councils to issue ordinances prohibiting and penalizing acts of discrimination and violence, such as but not limited to, libel, slander, physical injuries and the dishonor of contractual obligations such as contracts of lease or employment,” read the resolution.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim said the MMC approved the resolution in a teleconference meeting on Monday which discussed concerns about the enhanced community quarantine over Luzon.
Lim said they received reports of “violence and discrimination against health care workers, persons with coronavirus disease and those suspected with infection” during the quarantine period.
In Manila, a resolution was already approved that prohibits stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation against health workers, frontliners, persons under investigation and persons under monitoring.
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