MEMBERS of the Municipal Council of La Trinidad, Benguet passed an ordinance punishing acts of discrimination against frontliners and persons infected and suspected for Covid-19 pandemic.
Under Ordinance No.9-2020, considered discriminatory acts declared as unlawful include verbal statement or declaration which causes negative impressions, disgrace, shame, humiliation, harassment against patients, health workers or frontliners.
“Refusal or failure to give assistance or accommodation to a patient, health worker or frontliner who intends to return to his/her place of residence or domicile after have been certified as cleared or free from any infection by the proper health officials,” the resolution added.
Violators will face penalties of P500 for first offense, P1,500 or imprisonment for three days or both upon the discretion of the court for second offense and a penalty of P2,500 or imprisonment for five days or both at the discretion of the court for the third offense.
Previously, the Provincial Government of Benguet condemned discrimination against frontliners, health workers and persons exposed to the Covid-19.
Officials passed Resolution no. 2020-45 to stop the discrimination of health workers like nurses, doctors, emergency volunteers and personnel, service workers assigned to hospitals, including suspected as well as confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province.
“The frontliners assigned to hospitals or centers where Covid-19 cases are treated, including confirmed and suspected shall be protected from any act that causes stigma, disgrace, shame, humiliation or harassment against them, including the spreading of sensitive information, whether verified or not, in public or social media about confirmed or suspected Covid-19 denouncing such discriminatory acts in the strongest sense,” the approved measure reads.