The tip of the iceberg…
The number of HIV infections has steadily increased in the Philippines since 1984, with sexual
transmission as the primary mode.
Eighty-fi ve per cent of the recorded infections were among those aged 20–49 (June 2002), which
represents the most economically active segment of the population.
Migrant workers are among those who are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The Philippines has more than
7 million migrant workers moving in and out of the country. Twenty-eight per cent of the total
number of reported HIV/AIDS cases are among migrant workers.

A matter of time…
The Philippines cannot afford to be complacent in the current situation. There is a real possibility
that a sudden and dramatic increase in the number of HIV infections will occur.
The principal factors driving this increase include unprotected casual sex with multiple partners,
repeated and untreated sexually transmitted infections, unsafe blood transfusion practices and
intravenous drug use.

The development issue…
The Philippines face serious problems of unemployment, political unrest and poverty, which burden
the country’s social and health systems.
1. Forty per cent of Filipinos live in poverty.
2. Seventy-seven per cent of Filipino families do not earn enough to maintain an adequate standard
    of living.
3. The country’s total foreign liability, as of June 2001, was estimated at more than US$52 billion.
    As such, it is not surprising that the national budget places more emphasis on debt-servicing than
    on social services. For example, an estimated US$2.8 billion was allocated for interest payment on
    loans, while US$280 million was allotted for health.

The time to act is now…
while the level of HIV infection remains low; and
while the resources required for effective prevention, care and support programmes would demand
much less from the country’s limited available resources.

The opportunity is here…
 - to scale up the interventions that have effectively kept the
   level of HIV infection low;
 - to implement the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act
   of 1998, which provides a comprehensive national framework
   for addressing the threat of HIV/AIDS;
 - to link with strong and organized civil society groups; and
 - to ensure full participation of the private sector in HIV/AIDS initiatives that recognize the need for
   greater corporate social responsibility.
The challenge for the private sector is to join with government and nongovernmental organizations
in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Where are the gaps?
- Positive sexual attitudes and behaviour among young people can be developed through school-based
  HIV/AIDS education.
- Stronger information and education campaigns—especially those that use mass media and peer
  groups—have proven effective in reaching young people, vulnerable groups and mobile populations.
- A change in attitude and behaviour towards safer sexual practices, including condom use, is necessary
  to reduce vulnerability to sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS.
- HIV/AIDS prevention measures, including counselling and the provision of adequate health services
  in the workplace, need to be established.
- Care and support services need to be improved to ease the burden on the infected and to prepare for a
  possible increase in infections.

Your next step…
To find out exactly how you can make a difference in the Philippines, contact:
The Philippine National AIDS Council Secretariat
3rd Floor, Bldg 15 San Lazaro Compound
Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manila
Phone: 743.8301 local 2551/2553
           743.0512
Fax:     743.8301 local 2552
Email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it