By: Ira Anastasia Acierto
Photo Courtesy of Senator Risa Hontiveros / Official FB Page
World AIDS Day, observed every 1st of December, is a global reminder that the fight against HIV is not only about medicine but also about justice, dignity, and the right to health.
In the Philippines, this global day of solidarity has taken on a distinctly legal and rights-based dimension with the passage of Republic Act No. 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018, which strengthens the comprehensive policy on HIV and AIDS prevention, treatment, care, and support while reconstituting the Philippine National AIDS Council to lead a more coordinated response.
RA 11166 replaced the two-decade-old RA 8504, reflecting lessons from rising HIV cases—such as the 550% surge in new infections from 4,400 in 2010 to 29,600 in 2024—and the urgent need to tackle stigma, discrimination, and unequal access to services that have long undermined the country’s HIV response.?
From RA 8504 to a Modern Framework
At the heart of RA 11166 is a clear recognition that discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived HIV status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or economic position hampers the enjoyment of basic human rights and freedoms and weakens public health efforts.
The law sets out a broad bill of protections: it prohibits practices such as employment termination, exclusion from schools, denial of health services, housing and burial discrimination, and other acts that single out people living with HIV, with penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment for violators.
It also lowers the age of consent for HIV testing to 15, expands community-based screening, mandates comprehensive HIV education in schools and communities, and requires programs tailored to key populations and vulnerable groups, from overseas Filipino workers to young people and people who use drugs.?
Alarming Statistics
According to UNAIDS Asia-Pacific, The Philippines faces the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific, with an average of 57 new daily cases in 2025 and around 252,800 people estimated to be living with HIV.
In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 5,101 new cases were reported—a 50% increase from 2024—with 33% among youth aged 15-24, mostly males aged 15-34, and only 66% of diagnosed individuals on life-saving treatment. From January to April 2025, 6,703 new infections marked a 44% rise year-over-year, straining resources amid calls for a national public health emergency.?
Lived Experiences
Marvin Ted Membreve, a People Living with HIV (PLHIV), often face initial shock and stigma in 2013 after a single unprotected encounter, they felt denial, suicidal thoughts, and fear of friends' reactions, yet found hope through treatment and support.
Studies show RA 11166 has reduced internalized stigma among Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) by affirming rights and providing redress, though some worry employers view protections as optional, limiting relief from workplace or social bias. Community programs have encouraged more PLHIV to seek services without fear, fostering family counseling and empowerment.?
Global Praise, Local Advocates
The World Health Organization welcomed RA 11166 as an important boost to the HIV response in the Philippines, noting that it addresses critical bottlenecks in testing, treatment access, and rights protection that previously held the country back.
Senate Deputy Majority Leader Risa Hontiveros, who authored the law, urges its full implementation and amendments for minors' access to services without parental consent, emphasizing strong policy action amid rising youth cases. Local groups like Positive Action Foundation Philippines (PAFPI), which opened a Manila community center for stigma-free testing and care, and Action for Health Initiatives (ACHIEVE) lead advocacy, education, and support for key populations.?
Mixed Impact, Call to Action
On the ground, early assessments suggest a mixed but meaningful impact, with RA 11166 contributing to reduced stigma among MSM while new infections rise due to funding gaps and no nationwide needle-exchange. Framed against World AIDS Day, RA 11166 becomes a concrete expression of the global call to overcome barriers, with advocates like Hontiveros and groups such as the AIDS Society of the Philippines pushing for enforcement from barangays to national agencies.
For students, communities, and advocates, World AIDS Day is an invitation to ask whether every classroom has accurate HIV education, whether every workplace respects confidentiality, and whether every city has accessible, stigma-free testing and treatment—questions that go to the very core of RA 11166’s vision.
In that sense, the story of World AIDS Day in the Philippines today is also the unfolding story of this law: a reminder that ending AIDS is not just about commemorating a date, but about turning rights written on paper into protection, care, and dignity in people’s daily lives.