Philippines’ Right to Care Act could propel LGBTQ+ rights
Pride Month in the Philippines just got a powerful boost with the passage of San Juan City’s landmark ordinance approving the Right to Care Card for LGBTQ+ partners, marking a key moment for queer rights and health equality in the country. Unveiled on June 14, 2025, this ordinance formally recognizes the right of LGBTQ+ couples to make crucial medical decisions for each other, a basic dignity long denied in a system where only legal spouses or immediate family could act as proxies during health crises. With this move, San Juan becomes the second city in the nation to institutionalize such protection, following Quezon City’s pioneering initiative last year.RIGHT TO CARE CARD APPROVED IN SAN JUAN FOR LGBTQ+ PARTNERS
How the Right to Care Card changes the game
The Right to Care Card isn’t just a piece of plastic, it’s a lifeline for love and partnership. Through a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), the cardholder can now legally give or withhold consent for medical procedures, treatments, and tests on behalf of their partner. This means that in times of urgency, queer couples will not be left helpless or excluded from making potentially life-saving decisions for their chosen families. The card also ensures that all health-care facilities within San Juan must honor these legal proxies, with penalties for non-compliance, sending a clear message that every partnership deserves respect, regardless of gender or sexual orientation.RIGHT TO CARE CARD APPROVED IN SAN JUAN FOR LGBTQ+ PARTNERS
Paving the way for national reform
This local win is a proud shimmer of hope in a country where national marriage equality and anti-discrimination bills have long struggled to pass through Congress. While Quezon City blazed the trail in 2023, San Juan’s embrace of the Right to Care Card signals a growing momentum among local governments to bridge the rights gap. Many advocates believe these ordinances could set the stage for the much-anticipated Right to Care Act at the national level, a proposed law that would formally allow LGBTQ+ partners across the Philippines to be health care decision-makers for each other, regardless of marital status.RIGHT TO CARE CARD APPROVED IN SAN JUAN FOR LGBTQ+ PARTNERS
Doc’s Orders: Why this matters for self-care
As a therapist, I know how the stress and anxiety of being erased, or denied agency, can impact the mental and physical health of queer Filipinos. This legal recognition is more than paperwork; it offers safety, affirmation, and dignity. If you and your partner are in San Juan or Quezon City, consider securing your Right to Care Card together. It’s an act of radical love and self-care, proof that your chosen family matters, especially when it counts the most.
“Love is love, but rights make it real. This card is one step closer to a Philippines where every LGBTQ+ person can care for those who matter most.”
Let’s celebrate this milestone and keep pushing, locally and nationally, until every Filipino, regardless of orientation or identity, has the right to love, care, and thrive. Happy Pride, mga ka-Bayot!
