Ordinance against discrimination OK’d

By Che Palicte
THE Sangguniang Panlungsod of Davao City approved on Wednesday a city ordinance against all forms of discrimination considered by its proponents as another breakthrough legislation.
The landmark ordinance defines discrimination and outlines specific prohibited acts aimed at placing on equal footing all residents regardless of social, cultural and physical differences.
The ordinance will be known more popularly as ADO or Anti-Discrimination Ordinance. It defines discrimination as “acts committed when a person impinges on the right or freedom of another on the basis of national or ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, gender, descent, race or color.”
The ordinance provided for such prohibited acts as refusing employment, admission in any academic institution and entry in restaurants, bars, stores, movie houses, theaters, malls or other business establishments by reason of ethnic origin, religious affiliation or belief, sex, gender, identity, or sexual orientation, decent, race, or color.
A brainchild of Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, the ordinance was crafted by Councilor Melchor Quitain, former city legal officer, according to Councilor Pilar Braga, one of the measure’s co-sponsors.
“The ADO (Anti-Discrimination Ordinance) is a landmark legislation, the first of its kind in the Philippines,” Councilor Braga said of the measure which is a localization of the Bill of Rights provision on equal opportunity and in recognition of a third sex that has long suffered discrimination.
She said Dabawenyos should now be more sensitive and circumspect towards upholding human rights. “I think we need this ordinance very much,” Braga said.
The legislative proposal which will become effective upon approval by Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio also “prohibits any analogous act that demeans the dignity and self-respect of a person. “
Groups belonging to the so-called LGBT (lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals) welcomed the approval of the said ordinance which they considered as a well deserved recognition of their existence.
Marivic Desquitado, executive director-founder of the lesbian community in Davao City, said that the ordinance made members of the LGBT group regain their dignity and confidence.
“We have been pushing for the ordinance since 2005,” Desquitado said, adding that they got the recognition that they aimed for after seven long years of lobbying.
Prof. Hadji Balajadia said that this is really a memorable event for them. They are overjoyed and elated on the approval of the ordinance. They cannot explain the happiness they felt right now, he said.
Prof. Balajadia earlier wrote a letter on behalf of his group to the Sanggunian to support the passage ADO, saying it will “provide formal remedy for individuals who suffer discriminations, promote preventive measures in order to diminish discriminations among LGBT and Lumads, and serve as vehicle of social engineering to counteract and address not only direct discrimination, among others.