Health worker in Cagayan de Oro says public vehicles won't give her rides amid COVID-19 fears

Despite what healthcare workers have been sacrificing to fight off the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country, they have started to experience discrimination from the public.

Benette Victoria Pinar, a medical technologist in Cagayan de Oro City, shared that public vehicles have been more hesitant to take her in.

"May mga instances po na kapag sinasabi ko po 'yung name ng hospital po namin, dine-deny ako ng public vehicles," she said in an episode of "Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho" on Sunday.

"Hindi po namin maiwasan na ma-feel po namin 'yung pagod sa ospital, tapos 'yung pagod ng mga salita nila na nadi-discriminate kami," she added.

The hospital she works for has one confirmed COVID-19 case, Benette said.

"Risky po 'yung close contact po kasi hindi po natin alam kapag mayroon ba siya talagang virus o hindi," she said. "So let's stay na nag-positive po siya tapos umubo po siya sa harap mo, sure talaga na mahahawaan ka."

But despite the discrimination she and other healthcare workers suffer, Pinar said that it was still their duty to help other people out no matter the consequences.

She said, "Ito po talaga 'yung duty namin. Ito po 'yung purpose namin makatulong sa tao."

According to the Department of Health, the number of people infected with COVID-19 in the Philippines has climbed to 501, with 33 people dead, including three healthcare workers who died in the line of duty.

—Kaela Malig/JCB, GMA News