Cebu City government approves anti-discrimination ordinance

CEBU, Philippines - In order to address discrimination and help build a culture of respect, the Cebu City Council has approved the anti-discrimination ordinance that further protects the rights of all ci-tizens regardless of age, sexual orientation or ethnicity.

The resolution, authored by City Councilor Margarita Osmeña, deputy mayor of social services, is pursuant to City Ordinance No. 2339 otherwise known as "An Ordinance Prohibiting Discrimination in the City of Cebu on the Basis of Disability, Age, Health Status, Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Ethnicity and Religion."

According to the ordinance, the city is the first local government unit to enact the anti-discrimination.

The ordinance also encourages the institutionalization of programs and projects of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community.

As an initial step to helping the LGBT, the city has put up a help desk for the sector.

"I will guarantee that at least there is a desk to start with that should embody what this ordinance says," Osmena earlier said.

Former city councilor, Alvin Dizon who authored Ordinance 2339 last 2012 also said that it is important to have respect to human's dignity.

"We were the first local government in the entire country that adapts a comprehensive Anti-Discrimination policy for the minority sectors," Dizon said.

"We're happy that the LGBT sector, senior citizens, person's with disability  are pursuing this advocacy kay this administration concern gyud kaayo sa issues and concerns sa atong mga minority sectors," he added.

Magdalena Robinson of Cebu United Rainbow LGBTQ sector said the ordinance would further raise awareness to rights of every individual.

"Mao bitaw'ng naay ordinance, usa sa atong program sa ordinance is to raise awareness on non-discrimination, maybe usbon ang attitude ba towards discriminating a person based on unsa iyang difference so mao nang naay education campaigns gamiton or interventions from the government para ma-aware ang taw nga bati diay ni ang discrimination," Robinson said. (FREEMAN)