The House Committee on Human Rights chaired by Manila Representative Benny Abante Jr. held initial deliberations on the proposed Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Act.
These are House Bills 188 authored by Abante; 224 by Bataan Representative Geraldine Roman; 1480 by Laguna Representative Ma. Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag; and 2128 by Negros Occidental Representative Jose Francisco Benitez.
These bills would prohibit discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, color, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, language, disability, educational attainment, economic status, health, religious belief or expression, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth and other status, and other protected attributes.
Abante expressed his sincere desire to enact such a law in the 19th Congress.
“These proposed bills are a testament to the House’s effort to enact a law that fully enunciates a state-policy to uphold human dignity and equality of all persons.”
The veteran legislator also stated that these proposed bills are a testament to the House’s effort to enact a law that fully enunciates a state-policy to uphold human dignity and equality of all persons.
“Let’s pass the bill to be passed as soon as possible.”
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman also advocated for the bill to be passed as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, resource persons and stakeholders from various agencies presented their expositions in the anti-discrimination bills during the hearing.
The committee would study and deliberate further provisions of the bills in subsequent hearings.
“We would like to have an encompassing law that will actually protect the rights of our people more than anything else,” Abante noted.
The panel also adopted their internal rules and procedures.
