Davao eyes ordinance banning discrimination vs minorities

DAVAO CITY — Vice-Mayor Rodrigo R. Duterte is crafting an ordinance that seeks to put an end to discrimination against marginalized groups in the city.

The former mayor said the measure would curb employers’ practice of refusing to employ qualified Muslims and indigenous peoples on the “misplaced notion” that they are not good workers and are difficult to work with.

Mr. Duterte said he has been calling for years on the Philippine National Police to allocate at least 10% of its work force to qualified Muslims and indigenous peoples.

The proposal, he said, would be patterned after similar measures in countries with strong advocacies against discrimination.

The United States, for one, has the Age Discrimination in Employment Act while the United Kingdom has the Equality Act of 2010 giving protection to job-seekers and workers regardless of age, the official said.

Mr. Duterte cited as an example the 40-year-old cap for women flight attendants imposed by Philippine Airlines which should be illegal given that the retirement age in the country is 60 years old.

The Philippine government too, he said, has several laws against discrimination, which include the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act; the Magna Carta of Women; and the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, he said.

Congress is also discussing the proposed Anti-Gay Discrimination Act, he noted.

Mr. Duterte said his anti-discrimination proposal would strengthen national measures.

Davao City is the first local government unit to institutionalize discrimination against children through the Davao City Children’s Welfare Code of 1994.

The mass media should not be exempted from the proposed ordinance, said Mr. Duterte.

He said he would introduce provisions to penalize television channels tagging criminals based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation, and cultural affinity. — Joel B. Escovilla, Businessworld