BACOLOD City – Employers in this city are strongly encouraged to organize body positivity and gender sensitivity seminars for their employees.
In a Facebook post that has now gone viral, a female college student shared her distressing encounter with body shaming on public transportation in this city on Wednesday, September 20. The 19-year-old, a second-year psychology student, wrote, “What I experienced today was traumatizing…I was publicly body-shamed by a conductor on the modern jeep of HOMESITE RSJ Lines, Inc.”
She was instructed to pay double the student fare due to her body size. She decided to disembark from the jeep instead.
She added, “Please be mindful of the words you use. If your passenger has paid the correct fare, please refrain from any form of disrespect or body shaming. Such behavior should be discontinued.”
Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez also commented on the matter, stating that the modern jeep operator and conductor had already appeared before him.
“We are pursuing a cultural reform in how we conduct and behave ourselves. We should be cautious because things we may consider insignificant can hurt others,” Benitez said.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has additionally called upon employers to provide proper orientation for their employees, particularly those who interact with the public.
Councilor Celia Flor, chairperson of the SP Committee on Women, Gender, Family, and Childcare, remarked, “We should always be mindful of our manners. Sometimes it may seem like a joke, but it can be hurtful to people.”
Meanwhile, the modern jeep operator issued a public apology on behalf of their employee. Part of its statement read: “In response to the recent incident involving one of our employees and a passenger, RSJ Lines Inc. would like to extend our sincerest apologies for the unfortunate situation that has affected the aggrieved individual.”
It further emphasized their strong condemnation of such behavior and their commitment to addressing the issue comprehensively.
The modern jeep operator also stated that they have privately reached out to the college student and are implementing measures to address the situation. They assured that there would be a thorough investigation and appropriate disciplinary actions on their employee./PN
