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SB 376

Senate Bill No. ___ aims to strengthen the Philippine Comprehensive Policy on HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support, while establishing the Philippine National HIV and AIDS Plan. The bill addresses the alarming rise in HIV cases, particularly among marginalized communities, and highlights the urgent need for improved testing and treatment access. It proposes to repeal the existing Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 and allocate necessary funds for the new initiatives.

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52 views25 pages

SB 376

Senate Bill No. ___ aims to strengthen the Philippine Comprehensive Policy on HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support, while establishing the Philippine National HIV and AIDS Plan. The bill addresses the alarming rise in HIV cases, particularly among marginalized communities, and highlights the urgent need for improved testing and treatment access. It proposes to repeal the existing Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998 and allocate necessary funds for the new initiatives.

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SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS OF T H E )

REPUBLIC OF T H E PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
TIME;
SENATE
eiLLS A (iNBBX
Senate Bill N o .____ ^ 6

Introduced by SEN. ANA THERESIA RISAMHONTIVEROS BARAQUEL

AN ACT
STRENGTHENING T H E PH ILIPPINE COMPREHENSIVE POLICY ON
HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS (HIV) AND ACQUIRED IMMUNE
DEFICIENCY SYNDROME (AIDS) PREVENTION, TREATMENT, CARE, AND
SUPPORT, AND ESTABLISHING T H E PH ILIPPINE NATIONAL HIV AND AIDS
PLAN, REPEALING FOR T H E PURPOSE REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8504,
OTHERWISE KNOWN AS TH E PH ILIPPINE AIDS PREVENTION AND
CONTROL ACT OF 1998, AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The unprecedented rise in HIV cases in the Phihppines presents a grave public health threat that
requires urgent action. From 6,015 total cases in 2010, the number rose to a total o f 33,419
during the first quarter o f 2016. While this still reflects a low prevalence rate for a country o f 100
milhon people, the rapid increase in the last six years reflects an alarming landscape: how the
epidemic is expanding in urban centers o f the country, affecting disproportionately populations
and commumties that are marginalised and vulnerable: young Filipinos; gay and bisexual men;
transgender people; and people who use drugs.

With the current status o f the Phihppine response to HIV, it is likely for these concentrated
epidemics to continue to rise and jump over to the general population. Coverage o f HIV testing,
especially for populations that need them, remains low, and about 1 out o f 2 Filipinos living with
HIV is aware o f their HIV status. A third o f those infected with HIV have no access to
lifesaving treatment, which can only mean that HIV-related deaths are also increasing and that
those who are unaware o f their status are also infecting others. Despite the fact tliat a vast
majority o f HIV new cases have been contracted through sexual transmission, evidence-based
interventions to promote safer sex practices have been minimal.

The cost o f a business-as-usual response will be damaging to public health. Based on


Department o f Health estimates, if no improvement is done in the HIV response, the number o f
Filipinos living with HIV will reach 133,000 by 2022, and baUoon to 336,000 by 2030. This will
require a bigger public health expenditure, both to guarantee access to HIV treatment and to

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