Strengthening Local Responses Toward More Effective and Sustained Responses to HIV and AIDS

April 3, 2013

DILG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 029-13

 

Pursuant to Republic Act No. 8504, otherwise known as the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998, the DILG Memorandum Circular No. 99-233 dated December 9, 1999, on HIV and AIDS Education in Communities and Related Concerns, CSC Announcement No. 21 Series of 2011, DOLE-DO No. 102-10 Series of 2010, the AIDS Medium-Term Plan 5 (2011 to 2016), and the commitment made by various city mayors and local officials during the HIV and AIDS Local Response Dialogue with Local Government Officials with the League of Cities of the Philippines on 9 September 2011 — to develop and strengthen partnerships and collaboration and implement policy, tools, and other support mechanisms to help LGU planning, programming, and budgeting, and implementation of HIV and AIDS programs and activities; the DILG as Vice-Chairperson of the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) reiterates the role of local government units (LGUs) in response to HIV and AIDS. caCSDT

All cities are hereby enjoined to adopt the following strategies to promote leadership and mitigate the negative impacts of STI, HIV, and AIDS in your locality:

• Creation of a Local AIDS Council (LAC)/Local AIDS Coordinating Body to promote synergy between LGUs and various stakeholders (i.e., NGOs/POs, academe, faith-based organizations, CSOs) composed of the following members:

Office	Designation	Membership	Voting
			Capacity
Local Chief Executive	Chairperson	Permanent	Voting
Sanggunian Committee Chairman on	Vice-	Permanent	Voting
Health/Social Concerns	Chairperson
Health Officer	Member	Permanent	Voting
Social Welfare Officer	Member	Permanent	Voting
DILG Officer (PD/CD/CLGOO/MLGOO)	Member	Permanent	Voting
DOH Representative	Member	Permanent	Voting
Superintendent/Representative from DepEd	Member	Permanent	Voting
One (1) Representative from an Organization	Member	Permanent	Voting
of People Living with HIV (to be engaged/if
none organized)
One (1) Representative from Faith-Based	3 year term	Subject for	Voting
Organization		renewal
Representative/s from Accredited NGOs/POs	3 year term	Subject for	Voting
representing or working with groups		renewal
vulnerable or most at risk to HIV
One (1) Representative from an agency/	3 year term	Subject for	Voting
institution as identified by the concerned		renewal
LGU (business sector/academe)
STI, HIV and AIDS local focal person	Secretariat	Permanent	Non-voting

 For effective and efficient implementation of the STI, HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Program at the city level, all city Local Chief Executives are enjoined to enact an ordinance defining the functions of the LAC/Local AIDS Coordinating Body, providing financial assistance, identifying multi-sectoral plan, strategies, plans, programmes, projects, and activities for STI, HIV and AIDS prevention and control, and other purposes as the LGUs deem appropriate. The said ordinance shall be submitted to the DILG focal person of the Regional AIDS Assistance Teams (RAATs). HAICTD

• Protecting the rights of People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV).

 To ensure coordination and strategic initiatives in response to HIV and AIDS situations, cities may tap assistance from national government agencies, NGOs, and CSOs. The DSWD's referral system and network composed of the Regional AIDS Assistance Teams (DILG, DOH, and DSWD), HIV and AIDS Core Team (HACT) NGOs, and HIV champions shall be adopted to eliminate stigma and discrimination and promote confidentiality.

All PDs, CDs, and CLGOOs are hereby directed to assist in the organization of the LACs in the cities and its functionality and submit a report to the RAAT-DILG every end of the quarter (for posting in the DILG website, activities conducted by the LAC) in relation to the LGU plans and programs.

The RAATs shall provide technical assistance through advocacy and education to LGUs in developing and organizing different local response mechanisms to STI, HIV and AIDS. Moreover, should LGUs need additional information and support, they can directly get in touch with the Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) Secretariat, or access www.lga.gov.ph/hiv for online resources.

Similarly, provincial governors and municipal mayors are also encouraged to adopt the same strategy when necessary.

Widest dissemination of this Memorandum Circular is hereby enjoined to all cities within their jurisdictions, and to see to it that the intents of the law and this Department issuance are accordingly complied with.

For compliance. DCHIAS

(SGD.) MAR ROXASSecretary