By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Stressing that he is one with the Chief Executive, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. has lauded President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Executive Order (EO) No. 51 creating a special committee on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) affairs.

Abalos pointed out that EO 51 is a testament to the PBBM administration’s commitment to upholding gender equality and inclusivity.

“The signing of Executive Order (EO) No. 51, s. 2023 by the President is a bold and welcome move as it recognizes the need to tackle and put the rights of Filipinos, regardless of gender and sexual orientation,” Abalos said in a statement on Wednesday, December 27.

The DILG chief vowed that he would push for programs and policies that would promote diversity and fully observe human rights and gender equality.

“Sama-sama nating isulong ang isang Bagong Pilipinas kung saan kabahagi ang bawat Pilipino anuman ang relihiyon, edad, sekswalidad at pagkakalinlan,” Abalos stressed.

It was gathered that EO 51 was signed by the President on Dec. 22, creating the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs under the Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) which aims to strengthen existing mechanisms to address the continued discrimination being experienced by the members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

The special body will provide them an avenue to participate in policy formulation of the government despite the absence of an established body specifically dedicated to promoting their rights and addressing their concerns.

Furthermore, the Special Committee on LGBTQIA+ Affairs, which will be under the reconstituted Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DIC), will be led by a chairperson with the rank of an undersecretary and will have three members with the rank of assistant secretary.

The DIC will be led by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary and co-chaired by the secretaries of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Abalos as the DILG secretary will serve as the DIC’s vice chairperson.

(IAmigo/MNM)