QC approves HIV ordinance IRR

QUEZON City Mayor Maria Josefina «Joy» Belmonte signed on Monday the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ordinance the city council passed.

Belmonte told The Manila Times that the IRR signing was made in time for this month's observance of the World's AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) Day.

She encouraged other local government units to prioritize AIDS-related services and programs.

«We need to ensure that vulnerable and affected communities are involved. The IRR signing is a testament that Quezon City is keeping its promise to end AIDS by 2030. From institutionalizing our policy, we now laid down actionable measures,» she said.

The HIV ordinance is one of the many initiatives of the city government to combat AIDS.

Its salient points include the composition of the Quezon City AIDS Council, formulation of an action plan, creation of a technical working group to monitor and make sure the action plan is implemented and funded, and strengthening of the service delivery network for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and their families.

Councilor Bernard Herrera, chairman of the Committee on Health and Sanitation, believed it was high time to strengthen further actions to end AIDS as 2030 draws near.

«There is no other day or year but now to sign the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the HIV ordinance. This is to ensure that there will be enough care and support, rights-based services, enough capacity for our service providers, and most importantly, enough investment to implement and sustain the initiatives so we can end AIDS in 2030,» Herrera said.

Dr. Anthony Vergara, the city's Health Department chief health operations officer, said the local government will continue to strengthen its efforts not just in health services but also in tackling the human rights aspect of HIV and AIDS.

The city officials also believed in the role of education and the youth sectors in the fight against AIDS.

The city government, according to the mayor, has collaborated with the schools and villages to create the HIV manual for high school students.