Former Department of Health (DOH) secretary and now Iloilo Fifth District Representative Janette Garin does not see the need to declare HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) a national public health emergency.
“We really don’t need to declare a public health emergency pero ang kailangan dito ay constant reminder. Declaring national health emergency will not make any difference,” she said on Wednesday, June 4.
“You only declare a public health emergency when you need to find new funds, mobilize resources, and intensify global collaboration,” Garin explained.
According to the lawmaker, the problem can be addressed by making medicines available and accessible.
“First of all, this rise in the cases of HIV, we have expected it to increase, not because it was low before, but because we already have high incidence without having people tested. The availability of tests, the awareness of the people, that is what drives cases up,” Garin said.
The declaration was recommended by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa amid the 500-percent increase in HIV cases in the country, with 57 confirmed cases each day from January to March 2025.
He noted that the significant increase was recorded among individuals aged 15 to 25 years.
“In fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay dose anyos po sa probinsya ng Palawan (The youngest diagnosed case is a 12-year-old in the province of Palawan),” Herbosa said.IMT
