Committee Hearing on Proposed Health Proxy Ordinance

The University of the Philippines Gender Law and Policy Program (UP GLPP) participated in the Committee Hearing on the proposed Health Proxy Ordinance held on 9 October 2025, at the Pasig City Hall Session Hall.

The hearing, presided over by Hon. Erik Gonzales, Chairperson of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, brought together members of the Pasig City Council, representatives from the City Legal Office, City Health Department, and Gender and Development Office, as well as the UP GLPP team composed of Prof. Virginia Viray, Atty. Irene Pua, Atty. Aubrey Mejia, and Jassim Mojica. GLPP’s proposal aims to expand this scope even further by focusing on personal autonomy.

With Prof. Viray as its main speaker, GLPP presented the Program’s position and comments on the proposed measure. The Program emphasized that the ordinance should center on the fundamental right of every person to decide who may represent them in medical decision-making. It shared with the committee that the current healthcare practices, which often rely on heteronormative assumptions prioritizing legal spouses or next of kin, are not grounded in law but in habit.

GLPP thereafter reiterated the fundamental premise the proposed ordinance is founded: that the right to designate a healthcare proxy arises from the principle of personal autonomy and is consistent with human rights and gender equality frameworks. The Program also proposed reﬁning the ordinance’s title to better reﬂect its purpose—suggesting “Health Care Proxy Ordinance” as a more precise term than “Right to Care.”

GLPP further recommended removing restrictive qualiﬁers such as “single” or “legally separated” from the deﬁnition of eligible individuals to ensure that the measure remains inclusive, particularly for survivors of domestic abuse who may wish to designate someone other than their spouse.

During the hearing, members of the City Council and representatives from various city offices expressed support for the proposed measure, recognizing its progressive intent and potential to safeguard the rights of Pasigueños to self-determination in healthcare settings. Key points included the scope of eligibility, modes of revocation, coordination among implementing offices, and safeguards to ensure that health proxies act in good faith.

To clarify the scope of the ordinance, GLPP emphasized that the proxy’s authority is limited solely to health-related decisions and does not extend to property or inheritance matters. Here, Prof. Viray underscored that the measure does not diminish familial rights but instead provides an option for individuals whose circumstances require non-traditional proxy arrangement—such as LGBTQIA+ individuals, those living alone, or estranged family members.

In closing, the Pasig City Council acknowledged the contributions of the GLPP and other stakeholders, and agreed to conduct further public consultations to ensure that the ordinance reﬂects the voices and experiences of Pasigueños.

The UP Gender Law and Policy Program expressed its appreciation to the Pasig City Council for the opportunity to contribute to this initiative and reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender-responsive, equitable, and rights-based local governance.

GLPP would also like to thank its participants in the Round Table Discussion (RTD) held last 9 August 2025, as it is through such collaborative effort that the Program was able to craft its aforementioned recommendations. The RTD was attended by the following respected advocates from civil society organizations and esteemed lawyers to whom GLPP extends due credit and gratitude: