15/05/2026
โ๐ง๐ช๐๐ก ๐๐ค๐จ๐๐๐๐ง๐ฌโ ๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฆ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ร๐ข ๐โจ
Wagayway Equality, together with our Equality Champion Awardee City Councilor Claudette Ambida , officially endorses the โTwin Equality Ordinanceโ bills - composing of the โRight to Care (RTC) Ordinanceโ and โEquality Desk Institutionalization Ordinanceโ bills to Batangas City Mayor Marvey Mariรฑo last Monday, May 12, 2026.
Upon endorsement, Mayor Mariรฑo expressed his support for the proposed ordinance bills and subsequently endorsed them to the City Legal Office for further review and eventual endorsement to the Sangguniang Panlungsod to facilitate the legislative process, from official filing, committee hearings, plenary readings and eventual approval and implementation of such ordinances in Batangas City.
The Right to Care (RTC) Ordinance Bill, which has grown momentum being passed or in the process of legislation across cities and provinces in the Philippines, is a local policy that can allow individuals, including those in non-traditional relationships such as LGBTQIA+ couples, solo parents, and OFWs among others, to designate their health care proxy - whether a trusted partner or chosen family member - to make health care decisions on their behalf in cases of emergencies or if incapacitated.
Meanwhile, the Equality Desk Institutionalization Ordinance Bill, aims to institutionalize and provide sustainability to the already-existing Equality Desk in the city, for which it serves as the official local mechanism to promote and protect the rights of gender-diverse persons, key populations, and people living with HIV (PLHIV), address HIV, SOGIESC, and human rights-related concerns, and coordinate health, rights, and socio-economic service delivery through a structured referral and support system - that if passed, will be the โfirstโ of its own in the Philippines.
Together, these two ordinance bills, composing of the so-called โTwin Equality Ordinanceโ aims to towards a more inclusive and compassionate Batangas City since its passing of the Gender Fair Ordinance in 2016.
Maraming salamat sa Wagayway Equality Partners - Equality Desk Co-Creator Congw. Beverley Dimacuha (Community Ally Hero Awardee), DOH PNAC Representative Aivan Alvarez (Community Hero Honoree), Konsehala Aileen Montalbo, Ascend Development Solutions (ADS), Treyna Group thru the Right to Care Card, LAGABLAB Network, UP Gender Law and Policy Program (UP GLPP), LGBTQIA - SILBI Batangas City Inc., partner organizations, advocates, and community leaders, volunteers, and allies who continue to stand with us in advancing inclusive governance, LGBTQIA+ protection, access to health and HIV services, community-led policy development, and people-centered healthcare access for all.
Hindi na tayo pa-whisper lang โ road to Right to Care na talaga. โ๐ฝ๐
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ADS | Ascend Development Solutions, Wagayway Equalityโs official SDG Advocacy Partner, is a technical expert partner providing sustainable development, governance, ESG, and community-centered solutions for NGOs, LGUs, and organizations.