Makati enacts law vs gender discrimination

Discrimination in relation to gender or sex in the workplace is now a crime in the country’s business and financial capital.

Makati City Mayor Jejomar Binay has announced that he signed into a law an ordinance on Gender and Development (GAD), which paves the way for a code that protects residents, students, teachers, and school officials from being discriminated because of sex.

The new law also requires all government and private offices, commercial and industrial establishments located in the city to form a grievance committee that will act on complaints or cases related to various forms of discrimination against gender or sex in the workplace, in terms of hiring, promotion, training, and other related areas.

The ordinance, Binay said, aims to promote GAD advocacy even in the mass media by requiring all media institutions and practitioners in the city to be gender-sensitive, thus prohibiting them from airing or printing materials that discriminate against a sex or gender.

"The Makati GAD Code embodies our belief that development is a shared responsibility among all individuals, regardless of gender," he said. "The promotion of mutual respect and admiration among them is indispensable to harnessing their collaborative effort toward the attainment of sustainable development and social progress."

The mayor explained that even before the code was enacted, the city government had been earnestly laying the groundwork for the city-wide promotion of GAD advocacy.

"We now have a fully functional Gender and Development Council that meets regularly to keep track of our progress, and to conceptualize more viable initiatives," he pointed out.

Binay noted that manifestations of gender bias are still evident in the home, school, community, workplace, and even in the media.

"The only way we can bring about genuine gender equality is to convince all sectors of society to become staunch advocates of this crusade," Binay said.

The mayor, members of the City Council and officers of the GAD Council will officially launch the GAD Code on Aug. 23. – With Rhodina Villanueva