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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BillNo._ 7207

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The fear and panic caused by the COVID-19 has incited discriminatory acts
towards people who have been confirmed to contract the virus, probable cases, health
workers, frontliners, and even COVID-19 survivors. These discriminatory acts can lead
to a detrimental effect in battling the virus in our country. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), evidence shows that the stigma due to COVID-19 virus leads to
reduction in people seeking medical care or testing and reduction in people adhering to
interventions. As a result, discrimination can lead to cases not being reported, and more
people being exposed which ultimately makes responding to the pandemic more difficult.

This Bill is aimed to protect all citizens from discriminatory acts brought about by
the COVID-19 pandemic. This Bill defines the discriminatory acts that shall be punishable
by a fine or imprisonment or both in accordance to the discretion of our honorable courts.

In a time of fear and uncertainty, everyone should be reminded that solidarity is
our country's strongest weapon in battling the virus. Stigma and discrimination will not
help us in fighting the pandemic and will be injurious to our country. In view of the
foregoing, the passage of this Bill is earnestly sought.

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ERIC OLIVAREZ


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Republic of the Philippines
House of Representatives
Quezon City

EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session

House BillNo,__7207

Introduced by REPRESENTATIVE ERIC L. OLIVAREZ

“AN ACT PROHIBITING DISCRIMINATION AGAINST PERSONS WHO ARE.
CONFIRMED, SUSPECT, AND PROBABLE CASES OF COVID-19 VIRUS,
REPATRIATED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS, HEALTH WORKERS,
RESPONDERS, AND SERVICE WORKERS”

Be it enacted in the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title- SECTION 1. Short Title - This Act shall be known
as the "The COVID-19 Anti-Discrimination Act."

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy - It is hereby declared the policy of the State
to maintain peace and order, protect life, liberty and property, and promote the general
welfare of the people.

To this end, the State shall enact measures that shall protect the right of all people
to human dignity and reduce social, economic and political inequalities.

SECTION 3. Definition of Terms. -

a. “Discrimination” refers to any act of unjust distinction, exclusion or restriction
against persons who are confirmed, suspect and probable cases of COVID-19
virus or who are COVID-19 survivors, their families and members of their
households, essential and frontline workers, health workers, responders, service
workers and repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), whether land or sea-


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based, which has the effect of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment,
exercise on an equal footing of the human rights and fundamental freedoms in the
Political, economic, social, cultural, civil, or any field of public life of a person, or
which has or tends to have the effect of endangering the said person's life, safety,
and security;

. "Health Workers” refer to those who deliver health-related service or care. These

include, but is not limited to, doctors, physicians, nurses, hospital and clinic aides,
barangay health workers, paramedics, emergency medical technicians,
ambulance drivers and staff, laboratory technicians, and those providing related or
Support services in hospitals, clinics, quarantine centers, and other health facilities;

“Confirmed cases” refer to persons who have tested positive for COVID-19;

. “COVID Survivors” refer to persons who have recovered from COVID-19 after

previously testing positive;

. “Essential and frontline workers” refer to persons who are engaged in, or

employed by essential services, as defined in resolutions, rules, orders, laws;

“Probable cases” refer to persons with mild, severe, or critical symptoms of
COVID-19 but whose test results are inconclusive;

|. “Repatriated Overseas Filipino Workers” refer to returning OFWs, dead or

alive, from a job site overseas, the reasons for which range from completion of
employment, labor conflicts, medical causes, psychosocial problems, wars,
restrictive immigration policies, and others:

. “Responders” refer to officers and members of the police, armed forces, city and

barangay employees including members of the Department of Public Order and
Safety, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Barangay Health
Emergency Response Team, Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, and
other government employees deployed directly or indirectly in the COVID-19
response, or who performs functions that may cause potential exposure to COVID-
19;

“Service Workers” refer to persons that work in public or private establishments
Providing essential services including, but not limited to, food, water, financial
services, utilities, medicine, security, maintenance and sanitation, as well as any
person providing services under circumstances that increase risk of exposure to
COVID-19, including administrative, security, maintenance and support staff of
health and quarantine facilities;

“Suspect cases” refer to individuals who show symptoms of influenza-like
illnesses such as fever and dry cough, those with travel history to areas with
confirmed local transmission of COVID-19, and people with exposure to a
confirmed case.


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SECTION 4. Discrimination Practices. — It shall be unlawful for any person,

natural or juridical, to engage in discrimination as defined in this Act which shall include:

a. Stigmatization. No person shall publicly disclose, with the intent of exclusion,
harm and discrimination, offline or online, that a person is a confirmed or suspect
or is a probable case of COVID-19 or has recovered from COVID-19, whether or
not the same has been confirmed or validated from the list given by authorized
health officials;

b. Harassment or Assault. — No person may verbally, physically, or psychologically
harass, threaten or assault persons who have been confirmed or is a suspect or
probable case of COVID-19, a COVID-19 survivor, or any person suspected,
repatriated OFWs, responders or service workers or any of their households or
close contacts;

c. Failure to Give Assistance. — No public officer shall refuse, fail, or neglect to give
assistance to persons who have been confirmed or is a suspect or probable case
of COVID-19 or any person suspected of exposure to COVID-19 or a COVID-19
survivor;

d. Unreasonable Refusal to Honor Valid and Existing Contracts. — No person
May unreasonably refuse to honor valid and existing contracts on the basis of
COVID-19.

SECTION 5. Penalties. - A person who commits any discriminatory practice
described in Section 4 of this Act shall, upon conviction, be penalized of a fine or not
less than FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (Php50,000.00) but not more than FIVE
HUNDRED THOUSAND PESOS (Php500,000.00) or imprisonment of not less than
six (6) months but not more than five (5) years or both, at the discretion of the court.

SECTION 6. Separability Clause. - If any provision of this Act is declared
Unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the other provisions shall not be
affected thereby.

SECTION 7. Repealing Clause. - All laws, decrees, orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SECTION. 12. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect immediately after its
publication in at least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.

Approved.