In conclusion, the Commission supports measures to protect people with diverse SOGIE from discrimination, including those addressing issues of employment and associated rights. This measure will hopefully spark not just policy forum, but also increase the acceptance of persons with diverse SOGIE in society, creating a healthy environment conducive for all. The passage of the Anti-discrimination Bill based on SOGIE will be a major step towards fulfilling the State‘s duty to respect, protect, and fulfill the human rights of all. The CHR-X as an office and a member of the Technical Working Group (TWG) in the drafting of the Cagayan de Oro City Diversity and Equality Ordinance (CDEO) recognizes and supports the localized effort to eliminate all forms of discrimination that permeates the rights of every human being as enshrined under the Bill of Rights and other International Obligations to which the state i.e., the Philippines is a party with an obligation to faithfully comply in good faith. Further, the proposed CDEO hopes to prohibit and eliminate discrimination, whether directly or indirectly, based on personal characteristics such as age, racial, or ethnic origin, religious belief or activity, political inclination or conviction, social class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or relationship status. While the public has the right to be informed on this matter, we encourage the public to have an open mind in looking into each provision of the proposed ordinance with the end goal to eliminate discrimination.44 Lastly, the CHR X hopes that all human beings, regardless of their personal characteristics and status, will be treated with basic respect and with dignity, and free from discrimination. We encourage the policy makers to take up measures which ensure that all persons can fully enjoy their human rights. We encouraged everyone, not only the State, to respect the rights of all.45 Done this 6th day of February 2020 in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. ATTY. JEANNE IVY F. ABRINA (sgd) Regional Director 44 Human Rights Bulletin on CHR’s Position on the Anti-Discrimination on the Basis of Sexual Orientation Gender Identity and Expression Bill (Senate Bill No. 2171) dtd 21 January 2020. 45 Above n 18. GAD January-May 2020 Situation Report CHR-X Page 19 of 20