ANGELES CITY, Pampanga—A P5,000 fine or jail time of six months awaits anyone found to have discriminated against COVID-19 patients, those suspected of having the virus and health workers on the frontline of fighting the disease.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. signed into law Ordinance No. 532 or the Angeles City Anti-COVID-19 Discrimination Ordinance of 2020 on April 14.
Passed by the city council on April 8, the ordinance prohibits acts that cause stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation or discrimination against COVID-19 patients and health workers.
“In these trying times, families who are affected by this pandemic suffer severe anxiety and social humiliation,” said the ordinance.
“It is the policy of the city government of Angeles to act as parents patriae by showing compassion, empathy and tolerance toward its affected constituents as this virus can inflict any person regardless of age, sex or social standing,” it said.