Anti-discrimination ordinance Commission meets to draft IRR

CEBU, Philippines - Five years after its approval, the Cebu City government can finally start drafting the guidelines on how the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance will be implemented.

This after the city has convened the sectoral members of the commission created to enforce the ordinance. 

Last February 14, members of the Anti-Discrimination Commission were convened and took their oaths of office.

"The Anti-Discrimination Commission is hereby authorized as often as necessary to draft the guidelines of the Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and conduct sectoral consultations on discrimination," Mayor Tomas Osmeña said.

Councilor Margarita ‘Margot’ Osmeña was authorized to act as the representative of the mayor, who sits as chairperson of the commission.

Other members of the commission are Magdalena Robinson (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender), Roger Reyes (Elderly), Adela Kono (Persons with Disabilities), Atty. Joyce Adlao (women), Rosario Sequitin (private schools), Pastor Romeo Borado (faith-based), John Paul Maunes (health-advocates), Jamil Faisal Saro Adiong (ethnicity-based), and Justine Balane (youth).

Margot expressed her gratitude to former councilor Alvin Dizon who sponsored the ordinance in 2012.

Dizon, for his part, said the convening of the commission is long overdue.

 "Nalipay ta nga finally naa nay commission. Naka-appoint og sectoral members to help the city implement programs and projects for the different marginalized sectors sa society. Paramount task sa commission is to draft the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the mother ordinance," he said.

The first meeting of the commission will be on February 24.

"We are making history here sa Cebu. We are the first highly urbanized city to adopt an anti-discrimination measure. Pinaka-importante unsaon nato pag-concretize," he said.

He said each representative of different sectors will consult their respective sectors to discuss their concerns.

Initially, Robinson, a transwoman, said LGBT sector has enough discrimination.

"Discriminated like cross-dressing policy sa ubang establishments, bars, i-refuse entry mi even when we can afford. We are just exposing our identities. It's a bad culture and a bad policy. We want all forms of discrimination maybe sa employment, in toilets, in school's uniform policy. We want the ordinance and commission to address our concerns,” she said.

The sector is hopeful that the city will make inclusive measures that would prevent discriminations like in toilets.

"Naay conservatives and too sensitive. I-reprimand mi sa toilet attendants. The feeling nga you're helpless. You can't fight the system. So adto ka sa men, naa nasay laing embarrassment. There's no safe place for us even in toilets. We want that to be addressed," she said.

Kono, a representative of the PWD sector, said the existing comfort rooms for them can be transformed into a universal toilet wherein PWDs, elderly, and LGBT members can use.

She said the PWD share the same problem on the toilet issue especially in her case that she is accompanied by her husband.

"I'm with my husband. Dili siya pwede sa females toilet and dili ko pwede sa men's. The solution is to use the universal toilet. We already start using these toilets but the problem is it's too identified with the persons with disabilities toilet. It includes PWD, elderly, mothers with young children, and LGBTs. We have a PWD room which is a universal room. It has to be a unisex," she said.

City Ordinance 2339 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, age, health status, sexual orientation and gender identity, ethnicity and religion. (FREEMAN)