THE House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 10, ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the Philippine HIV (Immunodeficiency Virus Infection) and Aids (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Policy Act.
The said measure seeks to strengthen Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine Aids Prevention and Control Act of 1998, a 20-year-old law governing the government’s response to HIV and Aids.
The bill seeks to restructure the legal framework on HIV and Aids by harmonizing it with evidence-informed strategies and approaches on prevention, testing, screening, treatment, care, and support, making the HIV response flexible and relevant to the characteristic of the HIV epidemic.
The bill also establishes a road map on HIV and Aids that has clear strategies, framework, and funding and strengthens the information dissemination, education, which guarantees that the response on HIV and Aids is premised on the respect, recognition, and promotion of human rights and dignity.
Dinagat Islands Representative Arlene "Kaka" Bag-ao, one of the authors of the measure, hailed the bill’s ratification.
"Ang tagumpay na ito ay dahil at para sa persons living with HIV (PLHIV) at mga advocate mula sa civil society. Because of your efforts in lobbying and engaging legislators, we were able to finally pass the proposed Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, a law that is urgently needed and long overdue," she said.
"The 20-year-old Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act will soon be replaced by a policy that will be more responsive to our current context. Habang tumataas ang bilang ng mga kaso ng HIV at AIDS sa bansa, ganun din ang paglala sa stigma na kinahaharap ng mga PLHIV. Panahon na para baguhin ang sitwasyong ito," she added.
Bag-ao, in a statement, also congratulated her colleagues in the House and Senate for ensuring that the bill is passed.
Once the Senate ratifies the bicameral conference committee report on the HIV Aids Policy Act, it will be submitted to the President for his signature. (SunStar Philippines)