Dasmariñas Recognizes Right to Care Card for LGBTQIA+ Couples

(SPOT.ph) In a medical emergency, LGBTQIA+ couples can still be shut out of critical decisions when one partner is not recognized as family. More cities are trying to address that gap with the Right to Care card—and Dasmariñas City in Cavite is the latest to follow suit.

Under Ordinance No. 04-s-2026, health facilities in Dasmariñas will be required to officially recognize health care proxies. The Dasmariñas City Council said the policy intends to ensure "equality and equity among all the rights of residents" regardless of how they identify.

Having a Right to Care card will serve as proof that a Dasmariñas resident has formally authorized a trusted person—such as a partner—to access relevant medical information and make or participate in treatment decisions if the patient can no longer communicate or give consent. This matters because LGBTQIA+ partners may still be excluded from hospital-related decisions when they are not considered immediate family under Philippine law.

Applicants must be Dasmariñas residents, though the health care proxy they choose does not need to live in the city. The card can come in both physical and digital form.

Naturally, the next question is how residents can actually get one. Dasmariñas City has yet to release the full implementation guidelines as of writing, so the exact application steps have not been announced. We’ll update this article as soon as we get word!

Also read: Heads Up, LGBTQIA+ Couples! Registration for QC's Right to Care Card Is Now Online

To be clear, the card does not amount to same-sex marriage or civil union recognition. The Right to Care Card is tied to a notarized legal document and comes with a physical card that includes your name, photo, and a QR code linking to the official legal document. With it, you can access your partner’s medical records, sign waivers, approve or refuse treatment, and make other critical decisions—even if you’re not legally married.

This legal document is known as a Special Power of Attorney (SPA), which allows someone to authorize another person to act on their behalf for a specific task or situation, like making medical decisions. The Right to Care card reflects this arrangement.

Dasmariñas joins a growing number of Philippine cities that have adopted similar Right to Care policies for LGBTQIA+ couples, following cities like Quezon City, San Juan City, Iloilo City, and Parañaque City. The original Right to Care Card was created by the Quezon City Government in 2023.

A national measure is also pending in Congress: Senate Bill No. 1985 seeks to recognize patients' right to designate a healthcare agent through a healthcare proxy, effectively creating a nationwide system for this kind of medical decision-making arrangement. As of March 17, 2026, the bill was still pending on second reading.

Also read: First in the Philippines: A Card Allowing Queer Couples to Make Medical Decisions for Their Partners