📸Senator Bong Go facebook page
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, expressed deep concern over the Department of Health’s recent report showing a staggering 500 percent increase in HIV cases in the Philippines.
According to the DOH, from January to March this year, the country recorded an average of 57 new HIV cases per day, the highest daily rate in the Western Pacific Region. With this, the agency recommended the declaration of HIV as a National Public Health Emergency.
“I call on our fellow Filipinos to take advantage of the free HIV testing services being offered by the DOH. Early detection is key to treatment and prevention. Awareness, prevention, and education must be our first line of defense,” he stated.
He also reminded the DOH to strengthen its information dissemination campaign to increase public awareness and encourage early testing and treatment. “It is crucial that the DOH intensifies its information drive. Misinformation, stigma, and fear remain significant barriers. We need to reach every community with accurate and timely information,” Go emphasized.
Furthermore, during an earlier Senate Committee on Health hearing, DOH representative Dr. Albert Francisco Domingo reported that the bulk of funding for the country’s HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis programs amounting to PhP 6.2 billion in 2025 comes from the DOH, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and other partners. He also noted that local government units (LGUs), other government agencies, and the private sector have their own allocations while only a small portion of the funds comes from foreign sources.
“At the Senate, we will continue to work closely with the DOH and relevant agencies to ensure that adequate funding, legislation, and programs are in place to strengthen our HIV response,” Go affirmed. “No one should feel ashamed or afraid to get tested or seek help.”
Additionally, Senator Go also encouraged those in need of medical assistance to visit any of the 167 Malasakit Centers nationwide. These centers, established through Republic Act No. 11463, which Go principally authored and sponsored, aim to provide indigent patients with access to medical assistance by bringing together various government agencies in one-stop shops nationwide.
Currently, 93 centers are in Luzon, 30 in the Visayas, and 44 in Mindanao, having already served more than 17 million Filipinos, according to the DOH.
The senator also pointed out the necessity of treating HIV as both a health and behavioral concern. He noted that DOH programs, including hospitals and Regional Specialty Centers focusing on infectious diseases, play a crucial role.
Go also principally sponsored and is one of the authors of RA 11959, also known as the Regional Specialty Centers Act, which was signed into law to bring specialized care in every region.
“Matagal na po ito. Dito papasok ang mga programa ng DOH kasama na diyan ang ating mga hospitals, HIV-related katulad ng AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), kasama diyan ang mga Regional Specialty Centers, lalo na po ‘yung mga infectious diseases sa mga specialty centers natin. Diyan po sila makakatulong,” Go explained.
“Ilapit natin ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa ating mga kababayan na higit na nangangailangan. Patuloy kaming magseserbisyo sa inyo dahil bisyo ko ang magserbisyo at ako ay naniniwala na ang serbisyo sa tao ay serbisyo ‘yan sa Panginoon, serbisyo ‘yan kay Allah,” Go concluded.
Senator Go also held a Senate Committee Health Hearing earlier today, June 3, to discuss the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s pledges to enhance healthcare for the Filipinos.
