Cavite Just Passed The "Right To Care" Ordinance—And Became The First Province To Do It

After Quezon City pioneered the "Right to Care" ordinance, Cavite is now adopting a similar healthcare policy that aims to recognize the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community, single parents, and other non-traditional households during medical emergencies. They are the first in the Philippines to pass a province-wide "Right to Care" ordinance.

The ordinance allows designated individuals to make healthcare decisions on behalf of their partners in emergency and hospital-related situations, particularly when immediate consent or guidance is needed. According to reports, the enactment of Provincial Ordinance No. 532-2026, dated April 20, 2026, was officially confirmed by the Cavite Provincial Board.

Similar to Quezon City's policy, the province will also issue a "CareCavite ID" to designated healthcare proxies—a.k.a the designated representative. The identification card will be subject to annual renewal. The ordinance also states that the renewal process requires both the proxy and the principal to personally participate as proof of their "ongoing consent and agreement."

"Upon presentation of the CareCavite ID, the Health Care Provider must immediately acknowledge the document's validity and the authority it grants to the Health Care Proxy," the ordinance wrote.

The measure also outlines specific conditions for when the healthcare proxy may exercise decision-making authority. Under the ordinance, the proxy may only act if the principal is mentally or physically incapable of making medical decisions.

Even in such situations, the designated proxy may only step in if the patient’s first-degree relatives, including parents, spouse, or children, are either unavailable or unable to make decisions on the patient’s behalf.

Dasmariñas was among the first local government units to adopt the policy. Just last week, the city passed Ordinance No. 04-S-2026, titled "An Ordinance Establishing the Recognition of Health Care Proxies by all Health Facilities within the City of Dasmariñas – Right to Care by Proxies Card for LGBTQIA+."

The city's public information office announced the passage of the ordinance, highlighting that the measure aims to provide members of the LGBTQIA+ community with greater support and recognition, particularly during healthcare decision-making and emergencies.

"The Sangguniang Panlungsod deemed it appropriate to enact an ordinance that shall give rights to the members of the LGBTQIA+ by way of allowing their authorized partner to choose the kind of treatment, procedures, tests, and prescriptions they shall receive," the ordinance wrote.