Equality bill receives support in the Philippines

Government agencies have endorsed the Sogie equality bill, which includes provisions to protect against gender-based workplace discrimination.
By: | March 13, 2023
Topics: Compliance | DE&I | News | Philippines

The Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression (Sogie) bill, which seeks to protect the fundamental rights of all individuals against any form of discrimination based on their sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sexual characteristics, has won broad support from government agencies in the Philippines.

These include the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine National Police (PNP), Civil Service Commission, and Commission on Population, reported the Inquirer.Net.

According to DOLE, the Sogie bill provides measure to protect a person from gender-based discrimination in the workplace. “This is really an opportune time to further strengthen the DOLE’s thrust in ending discrimination in the workplace,” added Donnalyn Calipay, an officer from DOLE.

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Also supporting the bill is DepEd, whose spokesperson Suzette Ganaban said, “With the emphasis on the education sector, the enactment of such a bill will provided much needed support for DepEd’s advocacy promoting anti-discriminatory practices in schools and offices.”

The PNP meanwhile, says it has the mechanisms in place to ensure the enforcement of the bill if it is passed, said Isagani Fetizanan, the assistant chief of the PNP’s women and children centre.