Davao’s anti-discrimination law to be expanded to include health status

DAVAO CITY’s anti-discrimination ordinance will get revamped with the inclusion of health-related issues such as Hepatitis B. The existing City Ordinance 1417-12 prohibits and penalizes discrimination based on sex, gender, identity, sexual orientation, race, color, descent, national or ethnic origin and religious affiliation or beliefs. Councilor Mary Joselle D. Villafuerte, a doctor who chairs the council committee on health, said they have received several complaints about workers getting discriminated or even terminated because of their illnesses. “There is a need to amend the said ordinance to include discrimination on the basis of health status so that it is included in the acts penalized for discrimination. No one should discriminate anybody or stop accepting employment based on health status, there are companies making Hepa B testing mandatory. It has to stop,” she said during Tuesday’s council meeting. — Carmelito Q. Francisco and Carmencita A. Carillo