The city government of Muntinupa on Monday passed an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting patients with confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and persons under monitoring and investigation, including frontliners serving in medical facilities.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed Ordinance No. 2020-085 or the “COVID-19 Anti-Discrimination Ordinance,” penalizing acts of discrimination, harassment, violence or any action that causes stigma, shame, humiliation, disgrace or harm against COVID-19 infected persons, PUMs, and PUIs.
Fresnedi said that since the rise of COVID-19 cases in the country, infected persons including PUMs, and PUIs are presently experiencing stigma because of the perceived danger they pose in spreading the virus.
“To arrest the worsening fear of people against confirmed patients, PUMs, and PUIs, we shall penalize individuals that cause humiliation, harassment or discrimination against such persons through a local ordinance,” the mayor noted.
Under Ordinance No. 2020-085, it shall be unlawful for any public official, public employee, or essential service provider to refuse assistance or deny service to a confirmed COVID-19 patient, that person’s close contacts, PUMs, PUIs, health workers and frontliners.
Further, spreading of rumors, uttering information or any communication that causes unnecessary fear, anger, panic or violation of rights of such person shall be prohibited.
It shall also be unlawful for any person to maliciously disclose information of patients including their actual names, address and other information that reveals their identities.
Those caught violating the ordinance would be fined P5,000 or face imprisonment of up to six months. If the offender is a public official or public employee, the maximum penalty shall be imposed.
The Muntinlupa City Council also passed a resolution honoring all frontliners, especially city residents, who are rendering service in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by placing the Philippine Flag at half-mast.
As of April 6, the Muntinlupa City Health Office recorded 64 confirmed cases in Muntinlupa with four deaths and one recovered case. According to CHO, there are also 278 PUMs and 212 PUIs.
While confirmed COVID-19 rises in the city, the number of cleared cases also improve with over 319 cleared PUM and 100 cleared PUI.
For concerns related to community quarantine and COVID-19 testing, Muntinlupa City residents may reach hotline nos. 0977-240-5217 or 0977-240-5218.