Senator Christopher “Bong” Go has urged the government to come up with stronger mechanisms to address the alarming increase of Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) in the country, saying there is sufficient funds in the national budget for effective interventions.
Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, said there is a need for more interventions to better address possible gaps in the implementation of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act or Republic Act No. 11166.
The senator made the call following the Department of Health’s (DOH) latest report there were 1,454 new HIV cases reported in January 2023 alone, with an average of 46 new cases per day.
What is concerning, he said, is that 86 of these cases were among adolescents and children, with seven cases reported in children less than 10 years old.
"Nakakabahala po ito... lalo na ‘yung mga naapektuhan ngayon ay 19 years old and younger. Ang babata pa nito. May less than ten years old pa na seven cases (This is worrying... especially those affected now are 19 years old and younger. This one is still young. There are seven cases less than ten years old),” Go said.
Thus, he said, the government should “come up with a strategic plan to address the gaps in the implementation of the HIV law.”
Go said the government has allocated a budget of P1.433-billion for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, with P590-million allocated in 2022.
In the proposed budget for 2023, P43-million was allotted to the Philippine National AIDS Council, which was increased to P52-million in the approved General Appropriations Act (GAA).
“May sapat na pondo po na labanan po itong paglaganap nitong sakit na AIDS,” Go reiterated.
Nevertheless, the lawmaker said everyone should take responsibility for their own health and well-being, and for the health of other fellow Filipinos.
He also called for support for the government in its efforts to fight the spread of HIV and AIDS.