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House gives final OK to COVID-related anti-discrimination bill


The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved on third reading the measure seeking to prohibit and penalize discrimination against persons who are declared confirmed, suspect, probable, and recovered cases of COVID-19, as well as against healthcare workers and service providers.

Voting 204 in the affirmative, zero negative and one abstention, the chamber approved House Bill 6817, or the proposed "COVID-19-Related Anti-Discrimination Act, only a day after it was approved in the House Defeat COVID-19 Committee.

The measure aims to grant full protection against prejudice and discrimination against those who have contracted and recovered from the dissease, and against those who provide medical, logistical and service support to them.

It likewise recognizes the dignity and heroism of health workers, responders and service workers who are at the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.

Under the measure, it is unlawful for any person to engage in discriminatory practices against declared confirmed, suspect, probable, and recovered COVID-19 patients as well as against essential and frontline workers, healthcare workers, responders, and recognized volunteers.

Also covered in the protection provided by the measure are stranded individuals traveling from one local government unit to another, service workers, repatriated overseas Filipino workers, whether land or sea-based, registered or otherwise, and the families and members of the households of the persons covered.

Considered discriminatory practices against these persons under the measure are failure to give assistance, harassment or assault, stigmatization, and unlawful refusal to honor valid and existing contracts.

Any person who commits harassment or assault against covered persons may be penalized by one to 10 years in prison or slapped with a fine of P200,000 to P1 million at the discretion of the court.

Meanwhile, anyone who fails to give assistance, stigmatizes, or refuses to honor valid and existing contracts involving persons covered by the measure may be imprisoned for six months to five years or be fined with P50,000 to P500,000 or both.

As of June 2, a total of 18,997 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the Philippines, with 966 deaths and 4,063 recoveries. -NB, GMA News

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