Councilor mulls review of Manila health ordinance

MANILA, Philippines — A councilor is considering a review of a controversial health ordinance in Manila that requires health workers, teachers and non-academic personnel to secure a health certificate every year.

District 4 Councilor Louisito Chua, who authored Ordinance 8793 or the Sanitation and Disinfection Code of Manila, said he may consult the pleas against the ordinance with his fellow councilors.

Three labor unions in the University of Santo Tomas (UST) called on the city government and Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan to suspend the implementation of the ordinance. They also threatened to bring their appeal to the courts.

Members of the labor unions held a prayer rally at the UST’s gate along Lacson Avenue during their lunch break yesterday.

Rene Luis Tadle, president of the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities in the Philippines, said the ordinance could be deemed unconstitutional due to its inconsistencies.

He cited the exemption given to holders of professional licenses from annual checkups and drug tests, which the Manila ordinance allegedly ignores.

Tadle also criticized the “health hazards” reportedly found by his colleagues who had undergone physical checkups at the city government’s designated centers.

He noted that the over P600 fee for the health certificate is burdensome.

Tadle, an associate professor at the UST’s philosophy department, said their group is still awaiting a response from Lacuna-Pangan on their letter asking to review and suspend the ordinance.

Good intentions

Despite the appeals, Chua said he believes in the good intentions of the ordinance.

“We are trying to prevent the spread especially of infectious diseases like pulmonary tuberculosis… that is why there is a need for annual checkup,” he said.

Chua described the fee as “not very much” and “reasonable” since it was not monthly.

He said he has yet to find out more about the appeals of the UST employees.