In light of USAID’s foreign funding freeze, Akbayan Rep. Perci Cendaña filed House Resolution No. 2244, calling on the DOH and other government agencies to conduct an impact assessment on their affected development programs. This follows Trump’s recent Executive Order halting and canceling foreign aid contracts.
“Hindi pwedeng dedma lang ang gobyerno sa pag-freeze ng USAID support. Importanteng mapag-aralan natin kung paano sasaluhin ang mga nabinbing programa. Buhay ang nakasalalay dito,” the Akbayan Representative said.
“Mahigit kalahati ng mga People Living with HIV (PLHIVs) sa Pilipinas ang umaasa sa USAID para sa kanilang gamutan. Anong plano ng DOH? This is a looming healthcare emergency,” he added.
In 2024, the USAID gave USD 6.925M for tuberculosis and USD 6.68M for the Philippines’ HIV and AIDS program. It has helped 53% of Filipino PLHIVs stay on life-saving treatment and made it possible for 70% of Filipino key populations to take HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
Akbayan’s resolution also urged government agencies affected to mobilize resources for priority programs and develop transition and sustainability plans to continue them using government funds.
“Kulang na kulang na nga ang budget natin para sa HIV and AIDS, mas lalo pa ito nabawasan. Kung wala tayong gagawin, saan na tayo pupulutin?” Cendaña warned.
According to DOH, in 2023, 55 Filipinos are being diagnosed daily with HIV. Currently at 550% incidence rate, the number of Filipino PLHIVs is projected to increase by more than two-fold by 2030.