Two Rizal cities approve Right to Care ordinance for LGBTQIA+ and common-law couples
Two cities in Rizal have passed the Right to Care card and health proxy ordinance.
TREYNA Group deputy creative director Adrian de Guzman confirmed to The Philippine STAR that the ordinance has been approved in both Binangonan and Taytay, Rizal at the city level.
The news of its passage in Binangonan was first announced by the municipality in September through its official Facebook page. They detailed that the ordinance was signed on July 31 and have oriented several healthcare facilities on its provisions.
These include Pag-asa Hospital, Rizal Doctors Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, Inc., Binangonan Lakeview Hospital, St. Bernard Infirmary and Multi Specialty Clinic Inc., Quick-Med Ultrasound Clinic, among others.
Other healthcare facilities in the city have also received copies of the ordinance as part of the information dissemination campaign.
With this, Binangonan became the first municipality in Rizal to have passed the Right to Care program.
"Layunin ng programa na tiyaking iginagalang ang karapatan ng bawat pasyente, kabilang ang mga solo parent, single persons, LGBTQ community, at mga kabilang sa iba’t ibang uri ng pamilya o non-traditional households, pagdating sa mahahalagang desisyong pangkalusugan," their statement read.
"Isa itong milestone at makabuluhang inisyatiba para sa mas makatao, mas inklusibo, at mas maayos na serbisyong pangkalusugan kung saan ang bawat mamamayan ay may karapatang pumili ng taong kanilang pagkakatiwalaan sa oras na higit nila itong kailangan," it added.
Meanwhile, the ordinance's passage in Taytay was announced by the Taytay Alliance of Youth Advocates on Oct. 7.
"Choose your people, period! Healthcare na may pagkilala sa karapatan, dignidad, at sariling desisyon ng bawat Taytayeño," they said.
The Right to Care Card program was first introduced in Quezon City in 2023. It allows LGBTQ+ couples, common-law partners, and other individuals to authorize a partner or trusted person to make medical decisions and access health information on their behalf, particularly in emergencies when they may be unable to communicate their wishes.
Other cities have since adopted the measure, including San Juan City, Iloilo City, Parañaque City, Dasmariñas City, Cavite, Mandaluyong City, Biñan City, Laoag City, Carmona City, and Danao City.
At the provincial level, the areas that have approved the ordinance are Cavite, Laguna, Cebu, Ilocos Sur, and Northern Samar.