EAI-PH has been tasked to help draft the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance (ADO) as part of its Technical Working Group (TWG), which was formed in the first public consultation last September 24 at the City Mayor’s Conference Room, City Hall, Cagayan de Oro City.
The ordinance seeks to penalize discriminatory acts based on gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, ethnicity, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other persons with health-related risks as well as create affirmative action to educate and empower underserved sectors of society.
This engagement is in line with EAI-PH’s mission of creating positive social change for millions of underserved people across the developing world and working towards achieving a more progressive Mindanao where acts of discrimination are not tolerated.
“It’s about high time that we elevate our advocacy into actual policy, and this opportunity to help craft the ordinance is definitely a priority for us at Equal Access,” said Val Amiel Vestil who sat in to represent EAI-PH during the consultation.
EAI-PH is representing the Cultural Sector for the TWG. The taskforce assigned to craft the ordinance is chaired by the City Legal Office in the person of Atty. Ernesto Neri and co-chaired by Atty. Samson Tan. The Oro Youth Development Council, the project lead for this undertaking, will serve as secretariat.
Tingug CDO, Persons with Disabilities Act Affairs Office, the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos, and the Inter-Faith Council are among other organizations who will sit as members of the TWG.
City Councilors Girlie Balaba and Lourdes Gaane pushed for the passage of this ordinance. Hon. Balaba currently chairs the city council’s Committee on Social Services, for which this ordinance will be lodged under.
“We just want equal opportunities for all, respect for all, because all people deserve equal protection from the law,” Hon. Balaba said in an interview with SunStar CDO.
“This ordinance aims to counter a pervasive narrative of exclusion, bigotry, and intolerance. By mainstreaming diversity programs with affirmative action, we at least approximate in our city a sense that everyone can realize their greatest potential regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, religion, health, age, status or ethnicity,” said chairperson Neri.
CDO’s ADO will take inspiration from other established ordinances on anti-discrimination such as that of Davao, General Santos City, and Quezon City.
The TWG is set to converge in a series of consultations among sectors for the next two months leading up to a target adoption of the ordinance on December 10 in line with the celebration of Human Rights Day.
