Mayor says ‘Stop discrimination’ among frontliners

“LET us be compassionate, please stop discrimination.”

This was stressed by Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia after he received complaints that some of the frontliners in the war against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) experienced discrimination in the city.

On Thursday, March 26, Leonardia issued Executive Advisory No. 3 Series of 2020 a plea to stop the discrimination of health workers.

“It’s unfortunate that despite the support of the public and private sectors, our frontliners, particularly the health workers, now experience discrimination. Reports of alleged discrimination were hard to believe at first but these turned out to be mostly true,” Leonardia said.

He said: “sadly, our doctors, nurses, medical technologists, radiology technicians, utility workers, and even security guards of health facilities in our city have been facing carious acts of discrimination since the news of the Covid-19 positive patient came out.”

Leonardia noted that news outlets have announced that some medical doctors in the Philippines have given the ultimate sacrifice after being infected by Covid-19. Whereas there is no definite data from the Department of Health on the number of health workers who are persons under monitoring or (PUM) and persons under investigation (PUI) or have succumbed to the disease, it can be assumed that it is a considerable number.

“These show the perils of their profession. Indeed, they can be considered patriots for they are at the tip of the spear in the war against this deadly pandemic. Yet it is deplorable that our health workers now bear the brunt of hate and mistreatment despite the risk they take on a daily basis,” Leonardia said.

He said they’ve heard complaints after health workers were refused by public utility vehicles and of demands for them to vacate their places of lodging.

In order to address these problems, Leonardia already tasked City Administrator Em Ang to explore support options or arrangements which can be partnership with government or private establishments.

“More important however, is the full support of Bacolodnons for our health workers. They deserve inspiration and encouragement,” the mayor said.

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