THE City Council passed the “Anti-Discrimination Ordinance of Iloilo City.”
It declares unlawful acts and conduct of discrimination based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, and religious affiliation or beliefs.
“This is our way to show that we Ilonggos respect other people’s religious belief, race, or sexual orientation,” said Councilor Liezl Zulueta-Salazar, author of the ordinance.
Salazar said based on her observations, there were members of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT), and Muslims who were bullied and denied to lease a boarding house.
“There is a need for City Government and the Ilonggos to recognize the different aspects and contexts in which discrimination may operate in work, education, provision of goods and services, living accommodations, and such,” she added.
Discrimination is committed when a person withholds from, excludes, restricts, curtails, demeans human dignity, or otherwise impairs the recognition, enjoyment and exercise of human rights and basic freedoms in the economic, labor, social, cultural, educational or any other field of public life based on sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, among others.
Any person, natural or juridical, who committed discrimination will be held liable, and penalized accordingly, provided that in the case of a juridical person such as, but not limited to, corporations, associations, partnerships, educational and vocational institutions, whether public or private, the manager, head and officers will be also criminally accountable and responsible.
Violators will be punished by admonition and fine of P1,000 on first offense; P2,000 and imprisonment for a period of not more than 10 days at the discretion of the court on second offense; and P5,000 and imprisonment of 15 days on third offense.
An Anti-Discrimination Board will be created and chaired by City Mayor while the City Council chairman of committee on Women and Family Relations will be the vice chairman. The members include Task Force on Moral Values, Women and Children's Protection Desk (WCPD), City Population Officer, and two representatives each from the LGBT and religious groups.
The board will initiate the filling of cases against violators. (PR)