Due to recent attacks and discrimination to healthcare workers because of COVID-19 fears, Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday that she will be filing a bill that will penalize acts of violence and discrimination against health workers and front-liners as an amendment to Republic Act 11332 or Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Concern Act.
The senator further urged local government units to establish anti-discrimination ordinance with “clear mechanisms for the reporting and redress of grievances”.
“There is no health without health workers. They and other front-liners are heroes and should be treated with respect and compassion, not hate and suspicion,” Hontiveros added.
"Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ang ating mga frontliners na lubos na nagsasakripisyo para iligtas ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan ay nagiging biktima pa ng diskriminasyon mula mismo sa kanilang mga komunidad.”
(Translation: It is unacceptable that front liners who are sacrificing their lives to save the lives of Filipinos are treated with discrimination from their own communities.)
Manila, Paranaque, and Iloilo City have already established their own anti-discrimination ordinances following reports of abuse in Quezon province and Sultan Kudarat.
With President Duterte approving the extension of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon island, Hontiveros pushes for more law enforcement agents in the vicinity of hospitals and free transport for health workers.
"Hindi sapat ang ating pasasalamat sa ating mga frontliners kung hahayaan lang natin silang masaktan o maabuso. Let us repay the hard work and selflessness of Filipinos fighting the COVID-19 pandemic by ensuring that they are safe and welcome in our communities."
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