Various orgs bat for creation of anti-discrimination body

CEBU, Philippines - Various organizations and government offices are pushing for the passage of an Anti-Discrimination Commission in Cebu City.

The Coalition for the Liberation of  the Reassigned Sex (Colors), Rainbow Rights Project, Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) and Cebu City Federation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) asked the Cebu City Council to fast-track the approval of the said commission.

The Anti-Discrimination Commission will protect and monitor the community and welfare of  lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

Colors President Magdalena Robinsons said that the organization received numerous reports of social discrimination particularly in comfort rooms and bars.

"There is really a need for immediate passage of the commission to properly address discrimination against the LGBT," Robinsons said.

In 2012, the Cebu City Council passed City Ordinance 2339 that penalizes any form of discrimination against PWDs, sexual orientation and gender identity, ethnicity, age, health status and religion.

The creation of the body that aims to monitor and protect the LGBT community is provided under CO 2339, first policy in the country.

Speaking on behalf of their group, Danny Omayan, president of city's PWD federation, said the creation of the commission will "minimize if not eradicate social discrimination."

Virginia Piccio of DSWS, for her part, said there is a need to tap the Association of  Barangay Council to monitor such incidents that are mostly occur in the barangays.

"Incidents of social discrimination are lodged in the barangays. So it is important to coordinate with the barangay officials being the front-liners," Piccio pointed out.

Likewise, Tricia Ylaya or "Inday Tikay" of Rainbow Rights Project said "we have to respond on human dignity and galvanize this through the creation of  the commission."

Councilors Margarita Osmeña , Lea Japson and Alvin Dizon authored the proposed ordinance creating an Anti-Discrimination Commission.

Osmeña, Japson and Dizon have emphasized the need to address discrimination, to help build a culture of  respect for diversity and tolerance, to foster peaceful coexistence and to value human rights and dignity.

Dizon explained that whoever will go against the law will be penalized; first time offenders will be fined P1,000 or imprisonment for one day to 30 days while the second-time offenders will face a fine of  P3,000 or suffer imprisonment of one day to 30 days or both at the discretion of the court.

Further, for successive offenses, violators will be fined P5,000 or imprisonment of one day to 30 days or face both at the discretion of the court.

The ordinance prohibits discriminating against any organization or group. It also makes it unlawful to deny medical and other health services, transportation and other facilities based on disability, different sexual preference, ethnicity, religion and the like. — (FREEMAN)