Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go recently expressed concern on the alarming increase in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome cases in the country.

Go emphasized in an ambush interview on Friday, 17 March the need for more interventions to better address possible gaps in the implementation of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act.

“I appeal to the concerned agencies to come up with a strategic plan to address the gaps in the implementation of the HIV law,” said the senator.

According to the Department of Health, there were 1,454 new HIV cases reported in January 2023 alone, with an average of 46 new cases per day.

However, what is even more concerning is that 86 of these cases were among adolescents and children, with seven cases reported in children less than 10 years old.

In the proposed budget for 2023, P43 million was allotted to the Philippine National AIDS Council, which was increased to P52 million in the approved General Appropriations Act.

The senator added that everyone should also take responsibility for their own health and well-being, and for the health of their fellow Filipinos.

Meantime, Go has personally aided fellow Davaoeños in Barangay San Isidro, Bunawan District, Davao City who were affected by the recent flash flood on the same day and attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the water system and road concreting projects, the funding for which he supported as vice chair of the Senate Committee on Finance.

The lawmaker’s team also mounted a relief operation at Barangay Princesa covered court in Puerto Princesa in coordination with the local government led by Mayor Lucilo Bayron and Councilor Elgin Damasco, among others, where they assisted 40 fire-hit households from Barangays San Jose, Mabuhay, Pagkakaisa, Masigla and Masikap.