Villar stresses need to address HIV/AIDS pandemic at
parliamentarians' summit

Senate President Manny Villar today underscored the need to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic at a parliamentarians' conference held in Manila as he lauded the participation of more than 55 countries in the first global parliamentary meeting on HIV/AIDS.

"Our presence here today manifests our deep concern and unwavering commitment to address this global threat. Through this meeting, we are sending a strong and clear signal that we, parliamentarians, are serious in our quest for concrete solutions that would considerably reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS worldwide," Villar said in his keynote address during the opening ceremonies at the Manila Hotel.

Villar cited the latest AIDS Epidemic Update released by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World Health Organization which states that there are now 33.2 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.

"Of these, 2.5 million are children under 15 years old. AIDS claimed the lives of 2.1 million people this year, including 330,000 children below 15 years old. In addition, 6,800 new infections and over 5,700 deaths are recorded each day due to AIDS. Every hour, forty children die as a result of AIDS," Villar said.

The Nacionalista Party president also said that he finds it alarming that "we are slowly but steadily losing our children to AIDS" and challenged lawmakers to act now in order to protect the future of the world.

"There is no universal solution to this daunting problem. We must adopt a best-fit approach to suit each country's specific conditions and requirements in order that appropriate laws be passed. We can draw up a national response to this pandemic that matches the needs and concerns of our respective countries," he said.

Villar also pointed at the sky-high cost of medicines that deters many AIDS victims from seeking treatment, which ultimately causes unnecessary deaths and called on all pharmaceutical companies to make the drugs, and vaccines affordable and accessible to people living with HIV especially in developing countries.

"We are also confronted with the challenges of long-held biases, prejudices, and social barriers that impede efforts to prevent the spread of the disease. As lawmakers, we can craft laws aimed at tearing down the social barriers that accompany the trial of living with HIV/AIDS," he said.

Villar added that there is an urgent need to strengthen our country's poverty-alleviation efforts and to intensify the AIDS awareness campaign, especially among the youth and migrant workers.

"At the Philippine Senate, I am pleased to report that we are currently working on two HIV/AIDS-related measures. The first aims to facilitate the development of microbes to prevent transmitted diseases, including HIV/AIDS. The second measure, seeks to provide counseling and testing of pregnant women and newborn infants for infection with HIV," Villar said.

The Senate President also cited the achievement of the 1992 ASEAN Task Force to come up with two declarations to combat the HIV/Aids, including the one which was spearheaded by the Philippines, and adopted in Cebu City, during the 12th ASEAN summit special session on HIV/AIDS/ in 2006.

"We must also ensure that resources are properly allocated in order to launch an effective response to HIV/AIDS - especially in the areas of education, prevention, care and support. It is said that the fairest criterion for allocation/ is need. Those who have the greatest need have the strongest claim to services. This advocacy role is paramount as we launch a stronger crusade against HIV/AIDS on national and international levels," Villar said.

Villar also expressed optimism that the Manila meeting of parliamentarians will result in concrete strategies and initiatives that strengthen existing ones to help governments in dealing with the global health problem of HIV/AIDS in time for the marking of the World AIDS Day on December 1.

"Millions have died, and millions more are suffering because of HIV/AIDS. This reality should compel us to confront the issue squarely and move us to action. I believe that with tenacity of spirit and political commitment, we can curb the spread of this destructive disease," Villar said.