19 Oct 2012

Cebu becomes first province in the Philippines to pass anti-discrimination law

The Cebu City Council on Wednesday passed a landmark anti-discrimination ordinance on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, age, health status, ethnicity and religion.

The landmark ordinance will prohibit excluding, refusing or dismissing any person from public programs and services and educational institutions on the basis of disability, age, health status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity and religion, according to a report in the Sun Star.

The law will also prohibit discriminating against any organisation or group. It also makes it unlawful to deny medical and other health services, transportation and other facilities based on those biases.

First-time offenders will be fined P1,000 or imprisoned for one day to 30 days. Second-time offenders will face a fine of P3,000 or suffer imprisonment of one day to 30 days or both at the discretion of the court. For successive offenses, violators will be fined P5,000 or be imprisoned for one day to 30 days or face both at the discretion of the court.



Philippines