CALOOCAN CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) -- Manila Mayor Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagoso signed on Thursday, October 29, the city's anti-discrimination ordinance, penalizing any person who discriminate based on a person’s Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (SOGIE).
Domagoso said that the signing of Ordinance No. 8695 is a fulfillment of one of his campaign promises that “every Manileno will be treated equally, regardless of gender and staus in life.”
"In our small step, maiparamdam man lang namin sa inyo na hindi uubra ang discriminasyon sa Maynila. Hindi pwedeng umubra ang diskirminasyon dahil sa status sa lipunan - ang mahirap, ang middle class, ang mayaman, ang bakla, tomboy, babae lalaki," Domagoso said.
"Pare-pareho lang ng karapatan at karampatang paggalang ang dapat maramdaman ng bawat Batang Maynila sa kapwa niya at sa mga taong dumadako sa lungsod ng maynnila in their respective field of undertaking," he added.
Under the ordinance, it is prohibited to deny employees access to opportunities for promotion, transfer, training, schooling or any other benefit which are otherwise granted to other employees similarly situated on the basis of actual or perceived SOGIE.
It is also prohibited to deny students admission and or to expel, dismiss or prevent them from graduating due to their actual or perceived SOGIE.
The ordinance also prohibits subjecting persons to physical or verbal harassment, profiling, unjust detention and involuntary confinement because of one’s actual or perceived SOGIE.
The city's anti-discrimination ordinance also mandates establishments operating in Manila to create their gender-neutral toilets come 2023.
Any person who will be found violating the ordinance may face the following penalties:
First offense: A fine of not less than P1,000 or imprisonment of six months or both at the discretion of the court;
Second offense: A fine of not less than P2,000 or imprisonment of six months and one day to eight months or both at the discretion of the court;
Third offense: A fine of not less than P3,000 or imprisonment of eight months and one day to one year or both at the discretion of the court;
Subsequent violations shall be punished by a penalty of one year imprisonment and fine of not less than P5,000. Complaints may be filed before barangays as they are mandated to establish their respective LGBTQI Complaint Desks.
"Dito sa Maynila, walang mahirap, walang middle class walang mayaman. Walang bakla, walang tomboy, walang lalake, walang babae. Lahat ay mamamayan ng Lungsod ng Maynila, sa Maynila pantay pantay," Domagoso said.
The city's anti-discrimination ordinance takes effect immediately. (MPIO/PIA-NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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