New law to boost HIV, AIDS prevention - La Union lawmaker

A MEASURE signed into law in December last year would strengthen the country’s policy on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a lawmaker said on Monday.

Republic Act (RA) 11166 or the “Philippine HIV and AIDS Act,” which was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in December 2018, will expand access to HIV-prevention strategies nationwide.

The new law repealed RA 9504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998. It will strengthen and reconstitute the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) with full budgetary support.

The measure was co-authored by La Union 2nd District Rep. Sandra Eriguel and consolidated into a substitute bill under the House health committee.

“This law will help prevent the further spread of HIV-AIDS among Filipinos, especially among the vulnerable groups,” Eriguel said.

Department of Health (DoH) data showed that HIV and AIDS cases in the Philippines rose to 11,103 in 2017 from 9,264 cases in 2016.

Under RA 11166, the PNAC will promote and adopt a range of measures and interventions to prevent or control the spread of HIV among the general population, especially among the key populations and vulnerable communities.

The law will promote the rights, welfare and participation of people living with HIV and the affected children, young people, families and partners of people living with HIV. It would also prohibit mass media from identifying persons with HIV or AIDS, Eriguel said.

She noted that an important provision of the law makes health services for HIV-AIDS available to minors. The provision allows persons aged 15 to 17 years to undergo HIV testing even without the consent of their parent or guardian.

She said this would prevent the spread of the epidemic among young Filipinos and remove the stigma on people living with HIV or AIDS.

The law also contains provisions penalizing discrimination against people living with HIV or AIDS in employment, school enrollment, travel, housing, public office, credit and insurance, hospitals and health institutions, and burial services.

Violators of the law will face imprisonment of 1 year to 10 years and may be fined P50,000 to P500,000.

The law authorizes the DoH to establish a program to provide free and accessible treatment and medication to all persons living with HIV and AIDS. It also establishes an annual budget to implement the provisions of the law.