Villar opens 1st global meet on HIV/AIDS

Senate President Manny Villar opens tomorrow (Nov. 28) the First Global Parliamentary Meeting on HIV/AIDS at the Manila Hotel.

Villar will lead the formal opening of the three-day assembly together with House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr., Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Secretary General Anders Johansson, Michel Sidibe, deputy executive director of the UNAIDS, and Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

Initiated by the Senate, the conference is aimed at enlisting the support of various parliaments in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Some 200 delegates from over 55 IPU-member countries, mostly from Europe and African countries, are expected to attend the event. Organizers said at least 196 delegates have already arrived.

Keynote speakers from the United Nations and various global institutions and non-governmental organizations will also participate in the global meet.

Villar said, "This is an important health concern which has afflicted a significant number of people across the globe, and it is necessary to do all that we can in order to prevent and control this menace."

At least four panel discussions have been lined up, all focused on how parliaments all over the world could deeply involve themselves in addressing AIDS. At the end of the assembly, delegates are expected to make recommendations on how parliaments can take serious action to stamp out the infectious disease.

A new handbook, "Taking action against HIV/AIDS," will also be launched.

The Philippine Senate has been actively involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Congress enacted Republic Act 8504 or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1988, considered a landmark legislation due to its comprehensive scope in addressing the prevention and control of the AIDS scourge in the country.

Villar, who is also Nacionalista Party president, said, "Protecting and guaranteeing the people's right to health is best addressed by a global approach which exhausts all possible remedies and solutions."

Philippine National Police (PNP) Deputy Director General Reynaldo Varilla, in charge of overall IPU security, said about 2,000 policemen have been assigned to secure the delegates.

Villar asked the PNP to beef up security measures in order to assure delegates of a pleasant and fruitful stay in the Philippines.