Quezon City Council on Monday approved a city ordinance banning discrimination against LGBTI people.

The law was passed unanimously by more than 30 city councilors after a marathon eight-hour session.

‘This is very special and better than other ordinances, because it not only penalizes actions, but there is also affirmative action. This is an early gift ahead of the QC pride march in December,’ Ging Cristobal, project coordinator for the Asia Pacific region of the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, told GMA News.

The law extended a 2003 resolution banning discrimination of LGBTI people in employment to education, delivery of goods or services, insurance and access to accommodation.

The city-wide ordinance also provides venues to educate employers and educators on LGBTI rights.

Quezon City is the most populous city in the country and the largest city in the Metro Manila capital region.

Cristobal said the ordinance was passed partly thanks to the support of Mayor Herbert Bautista and Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte.

Belmonte previously told Outrage magazine, ‘There are many LGBT [people] in our city, and I believe they are such a strong and important force in our city’s progress and development.

‘I think, once we are more able to empower them, the more we can show them that they are our loved ones, the more productive will be. There’s so much they can do for the city if we help them.’

Agusan del Norte province passed a similar ordinance in June.