House panel OKs COVID anti-discrimination bill
MANILA, Philippines — A special panel of the House of Representatives has approved a proposed measure prohibiting and penalizing discrimination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, health workers and repatriated overseas Filipino workers.
In a virtual session on Tuesday, the defeat COVID-19 committee passed on first reading House Bill 6676 or the COVID-related Anti-Discrimination Act filed by Quezon City sixth district Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte.
“The law should grant protection against discrimination to patients who have already suffered and recovered from the disease, those who carry the brunt of providing medical care, logistical and service support and those who enable us to access food during the quarantine,” Belmonte said.
The bill also seeks to prohibit public disclosure online about the status of COVID-19 patients.
The proposed measure prohibits verbal, physical or psychological harassment of persons infected with the virus as well as probable carriers of COVID-19.
Under the bill, a public officer cannot refuse assistance to COVID-19 patients and survivors.
Violators will be fined up to P500,000 and penalized with a maximum of five years in prison.
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