Old LY Site

by Ronald Bugarin (Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/aidsgov/3008911718/in/photostream/ ) On 20 December 2018, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 11166 otherwise known as the “Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act” which repeals RA No. 8504 or the “Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998.” Among the revisions made in the new law is that minors aged 15 to below 18 years old can now be tested for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) without parental  / guardian consent. Under Article IV, Section 29 of the new law, “ If the person is fifteen (15) to below eighteen (18) years of age, consent to voluntary HIV testing shall be obtained from the child without the need of consent from a parent or guardian.” It also states that “any young person aged below fifteen (15) who is pregnant or engaged in high-risk behavior shall be eligible for HIV testing and counseling with the assistance of a licensed social worker or health worker. Consent to volu...

By Geldof Resuello Image from pexels.com As the 2019 Philippine general election draws near, we Filipinos should recognize the gravity of every vote cast towards the betterment of our country. Each vote embodies the trust we endow our chosen candidates in uplifting our woes and championing our advocacies. Legislation by the senate play a crucial role in the concretization of policies and advocacy. Truly, the elected senate have been influential in combating HIV in the Philippines. In the ongoing battle against HIV in the country, let us revisit strides in HIV policies. Growing Pains of HIV Policy The Philippines earned praises in the 1990’s for the passage of Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, which served as the country’s legal framework for the fight against HIV. Philippines’ Senate Session Hall (Source: Manila Bulletin ) RA 8504 reconstituted the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC), which is a multi-sectoral body brought about in 1992 ...