By Charissa Luci-Atienza The House leadership vowed on Sunday, May 31 to pass this week on third and final reading a bill seeking to penalize any acts of discrimination against suspected, confirmed, and recovered COVID-19 patients, repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), and healthcare workers, responders and service workers. House of the Representatives (ALVIN KASIBAN / MANILA BULLETIN / FILE PHOTO) House Majority Leader and Leyte 1st district Rep. Martin Romualdez expressed the Lower Chamber's commitment to ensure that all Filipinos, particularly health workers and repatriated OFWs will be protected against any physical, verbal, or psychological harassment amid the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. “We recognize each person’s fundamental right to be free from discrimination in this time of COVID-19 pandemic. Equality should be observed at all times,” he said. “This measure is scheduled for third and final reading approval this week,” Romualdez said. Romualdez is a co-chairperson of the Defeat COVID-19 Adhoc Committee (DCC) and House Rules Committee chair. The House of Representatives passed on second reading House Bill (HB) No. 6817 or the proposed “COVID-19-Related Anti-Discrimination Act” last Wednesday, a day after the DCC panel endorsed the measure for plenary approval. “While boosting our country's economic potential, we also approved a bill that aims to protect the life and limb of our health workers now in the frontline of our war against COVID-19. We are moving to grant them full and inviolable protection against all forms of prejudice and discrimination as they continue to provide medical care, logistical, and service support to our people in this age of pandemic,” Romualdez said. HB 6817 aims to grant full, inviolable protection against prejudice and discrimination to those who have already suffered and recovered from COVID-19, and to health workers, responders and service workers. Under the bill, a public officer shall not refuse or neglect to provide assistance to confirmed, suspected, and probable COVID-19 cases or any person suspected of having been exposed to and has recovered from COVID-19. Violators of the proposed Act, particularly those who were found guilty of committing harassment or assault shall be penalized by imprisonment of not less than one year but not more than 10 years or a fine of not less than P200,000 but to more than P1,000,000. Those who violate the bill on the grounds of stigmatization, failure to give assistance, and unlawful refusal to honor valid contracts shall face a fine ranging from P50,000 to P500,000 and/or six months to five years of imprisonment.