In a groundbreaking move for the Filipino LGBTQ+ community, the Quezon City local government unveiled The Right to Care Card during its Pride program on Saturday. This program aims to grant LGBTQ+ couples the ability to make medical decisions for each other, similar to those under a civil marriage contract through a Special Power of Attorney document.
The initiative addresses the legal gap that currently exists for queer couples, who are not officially recognized as next-of-kin during medical emergencies. This lack of recognition deprives them of the power to make critical medical choices for their partners.
Legislation for the LGBTQ+ community, such as proposals on same-sex union that would allow for this very benefit, has long languished for years in Congress.
In a statement posted on Twitter, The Right to Care Card highlighted its purpose: “The Right to Care Card is a Special Power of Attorney card that authorizes queer partners to make medical decisions for the one they love, as though you held the power of a civil marriage contract.”
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte previously expressed that the program underwent thorough examination by legal experts.
“We studied it. We have a battery of lawyers go through this if we can do it. And the lawyers said that it can be done through a special power of attorney, it’s like a special contract,” she explained.
She further emphasized that this project is the first of its kind in the Philippines, marking a significant step toward recognizing and protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.
The Right to Care Card not only empowers LGBTQ+ couples in medical decision-making but also allows them to designate their partners as beneficiaries in their insurance contracts—an option that was previously unavailable.
