A LAWMAKER has warned government agencies against blacklisting or committing any highly discriminatory acts against persons who are infected with or suspected to be infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIDS.
LPGMA party-list Rep. Arnel Ty, member of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety, underscored that the blacklisting of any person due to his or her actual or perceived condition as an AIDS sufferer is one of the discriminatory acts considered illegal and punishable by law.
Ty cited Section 37 of the AIDS Prevention and Control Act, which states that “The freedom of abode, lodging and travel of a person with HIV shall not be abridged. No person shall be quarantined, put in isolation, or refused lawful entry or deported from Philippine territory on account of his/her actual, perceived or suspected HIV status.”
“The penalties for “discriminatory acts” against persons with HIV status is up to four years in prison, plus a fine of P10,000,” Ty said.
Ty’s warning came shortly after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) temporarily barred a Filipino-Australian theater artist from re-entering the country, on suspicion he is suffering from AIDS.
Marcelino Cavestany complained that upon his arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on March 6, he was shown a blacklist order, which specified that he should not be allowed entry “as he will spread HIV.
Ty authored a House resolution pushing for a review of the 1998 AIDS Prevention and Control Law to find new ways to reinforce the fight against the highly infectious disease, and improve the living conditions of sufferers.
The lawmaker from Isabela has also been pushing for increased public funding for preventive education, and the conduct of community outreach programs to encourage voluntary and discreet HIV testing. –LLANESCA T. PANTI, Manila Times
Short URL: http://www.manilatimes.net/?p=7366
July 2025
Nutrition Month
“Give us much more than P50 increase
for proper nutrition!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
July
3 July – International Day of Cooperatives
3 July – International Plastic Bag Free Day
5 July – World Youth Skills Day
7 July – Global Forgiveness Day
11 July – World Population Day
17 July – World Day for International Justice
28 July – World Nature Conservation Day
30 July – World Day against Trafficking in Persons
Monthly Observances:
Schools Safety Month
Nutrition Month
National Disaster Consciousness Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 2: Cultural Communities Week
Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise
Development Week
Week 3: National Science and
Technology Week
National Disability Prevention and
Rehabilitation Week
July 1-7:
National Culture Consciousness Week
July 13-19:
Philippines Business Week
Week ending last Saturday of July:
Arbor Week
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
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