Resolution No.1

   


Date:    April 6, 1999

Source:    Republic of the Philippines (Philippine AIDS Council)

Subject:    Rules and Regulations Implementing Republic Act No. 8504 otherwise known as the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998

Text:

Pursuant to Section 49 of Republic Act No. 8504, otherwise known as the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, the following Implementing Rules and Regulations are hereby adopted:

The Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) are adopted to disseminate the principles of RA 8504 and prescribe guidelines, procedures and standards for its implementation, to facilitate compliance to and achieve the objective of the law.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease that recognizes no territorial, social, political and economic boundaries for which a cure has yet to be discovered. However, even if a cure is discovered, the Act shall continue to serve as an important guide in sustaining prevention and control efforts and caring for people of all ages already infected. The gravity of the AIDS threat demands strong State action today and in the future, thus:

  1. The State shall promote public awareness about the causes, modes of transmission, consequences, and means of prevention and control of the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) through a comprehensive nationwide education and information campaign organized and conducted by the State. Such campaigns shall promote value formation and employ scientifically proven approaches, focus on the family as a basic unit, and be carried out in all schools and training centers, workplaces, and communities. This program shall involve affected individuals and groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS.

  2. The State shall extend to every person suspected or known to be infected with HIV/AIDS full protection of his/her human rights and civil liberties. Towards this end:

  1. compulsory HIV testing shall be considered unlawful unless otherwise provided in this Act;

  2. the right to privacy of individuals with HIV/AIDS shall be guaranteed;

  3. discrimination, in all its form and subtleties, against individuals with HIV/AIDS or persons perceived or suspected of having HIV/AIDS shall be considered inimical to individual and national interest; and

  4. provision of basic health and social services for individuals with HIV/AIDS shall be assured.

  1. The State shall promote utmost safety and universal precautions in practices and procedures that carry the risk of HIV transmission.

  2. The State shall positively address and seek to eradicate conditions that aggravate the spread of HIV infection, including but not limited to poverty, gender inequality, prostitution, marginalization, drug abuse and ignorance. In seeking to eradicate these conditions, there is no intent to undermine other HIV/AIDS prevention activities. For example, this Act does not advocate eradicating prostitution through actions which drive the sex industry out of sight where it is more difficult to conduct HIV/AIDS prevention activities.

  3. The State shall recognize the potential role of affected individuals in propagating vital information and education messages about HIV/AIDS and shall utilize their experience to warn the public about the disease.

  4. Consistent with the above mentioned policies and in consonance with the Philippine National HIV/AIDS Strategy, the State, further, recognizes that:

  1. Multi-sectoral involvement is essential to national and local responses to HIV infection;

  2. People should be empowered to prevent further HIV transmission. Empowerment for all Filipinos will come through access to appropriate information and resources for prevention;

  3. The formulation of socio-economic development policies and programs should include the consideration of the impact of HIV infection/AIDS;

  4. Resources should be allocated taking into consideration the unique vulnerabilities of various population groups, including children, affected by HIV/AIDS and its impact; and

  5. Continued efforts should be made to constantly improve the performance and assure the quality of HIV/AIDS related programs.

 

    
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