Navotas City launched its Local AIDS Council (LAC) through City Ordinance No. 2024-03, titled “An Ordinance Providing for the Comprehensive STI, HIV, and AIDS Prevention and Control Program in the City of Navotas and Appropriating Funds Thereof.”
The Positive Action Foundation Philippines Inc. (PAFPI) supported the Navotas City local government units (LGUs) and attended the launching of the LAC on October 4, 2024. Following PAFPI’s technical assistance, a series of dialogues, consultations, and writeshops were conducted between October 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, leading to the drafting of ordinances aimed at improving HIV and AIDS service delivery. This collaboration culminated in the approval of Navotas City Ordinance No. 2024-03 by the City Council.
The successful creation of the LAC was made possible through the active participation and support of LGU leadership, including the city council, city health officers, and key affected populations (KAP).
Implementing the EPIC Project through PAFPI in Navotas City involved extensive consultations with the local chief executive and key city council members regarding the reactivation of the Local AIDS Council (LAC). One of the primary mandates of LACs is to advise the government on policy issues related to HIV and AIDS. Political representation within the LAC ensures that the vital contributions of these councils are incorporated into the city council’s agenda. The LAC also adheres to the old Republic Act 8504, the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1988, which calls for urgent amendments following Republic Act 11166, the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018.
Moreover, consultations with the city’s KAP through its health office underscore the significance of meaningful engagement by including them in the ordinance drafting process. The KAP actively participated in the technical working group responsible for creating the inception report, advocating for the ordinance’s passage, and overseeing its implementation.
Relevant department heads and city council members participated in writeshops to draft the local ordinances, ensuring meaningful and purposeful involvement from KAP representatives. This collaboration ensures that the ordinances address their concerns and protect their rights as individuals living with HIV.
With the approval of the Local AIDS Council (LAC), the ordinance tackles the urgent issue of rising HIV diagnoses, particularly among individuals aged 15-24, both locally and nationally, which has shown a concerning upward trend through the fourth quarter of 2024. The LAC also focuses on localized service delivery interventions and HIV case monitoring. Notably, the establishment of the Navotas City Social Hygiene Clinic marks a significant advancement, providing local people living with HIV (PLHIV) with treatment without the complications of referrals to neighboring cities.
The event took advantage for a series of inspirational messages from IDEALS (for a lecture on RA 11166 – Comprehensive AIDS LAW of 2018), City Council Members, City Health Officers and Navotas City Chief Executive:
IDEALS
- Dainele Renee R. Fajilagutan, Legal Officer, for RA 11166 Orientation
- Peter John Zipagan, Care Officer – National Capital Region, for IDEALS Care Program
PAFPI
- Emmanuel Garcia, PAFPI President, for PAFPI Welcome Speech and Psychosocial Intervention short lecture
Navotas City Health Office
- Henry Tinio, MD – STI, HIV/AIDS Medical Coordinator
- Liberty Domingo, MD – inspirational message
- Eric David, MD – inspirational message
Navotas City Council
- Mayor John Reynald Tiangco – inspirational message
- Coun. Reynaldo Monroy (Chair, Committee on Health) – inspirational message
- Coun. Richard San Juan (Chair, Committee on Appropriation) – inspirational message
- Coun. Neil Cruz – inspirational message
- Coun. Rochelle Vincencio – inspirational message
- Coun. Ron Naval (Heads the LGBTQ – inspirational message
- Edgardo Mano – inspirational message
Navotas City Local AIDS Council (LAC) through City Ordinance No. 2024-03, titled “An Ordinance Providing for the Comprehensive STI, HIV, and AIDS Prevention and Control Program in the City of Navotas and Appropriating Funds Thereof” is published at page A9 in the “Koneksyon” broadsheet/newspaper Volume XXV No. 33, August 20-26, 2024 (Koneksyon ISSN 0119-8459)
Photo Documentation
