US aid cut to Philippines' HIV programs leaves some clinics in limbo as cases soar
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US aid cut to Philippines' HIV programs leaves some clinics in limbo as cases soar
A health worker takes a blood sample from a person who want to undertake voluntary HIV testing at the University of the Philippines Manila. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File
A health worker takes a blood sample from a person who want to undertake voluntary HIV testing at the University of the Philippines Manila. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/FileMANILA — In January this year, the United States, under the directive of US President Donald Trump, announced a freeze on nearly all foreign aid, including funding for HIV programs.
MANILA — In January this year, the United States, under the directive of US President Donald Trump, announced a freeze on nearly all foreign aid, including funding for HIV programs.
The freeze is in line with his view prioritizing Americans and with his rejection of diversity efforts.
The freeze is in line with his view prioritizing Americans and with his rejection of diversity efforts.
The Philippines is among the many countries affected by Trump's aid cut, which has forced some local LGBTQ+ organizations to lay off personnel and cut back on programs as they struggle to stay afloat.
The Philippines is among the many countries affected by Trump's aid cut, which has forced some local LGBTQ+ organizations to lay off personnel and cut back on programs as they struggle to stay afloat.
Ronivin "Vinn" Pagtakhan, founder of LoveYourself, a non-government organization that operates a network of free sexual health clinics, said Friday that around eight to ten community clinics that heavily relied on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund had to either pause, merge with bigger centers, or shift to online models.
Ronivin "Vinn" Pagtakhan, founder of LoveYourself, a non-government organization that operates a network of free sexual health clinics, said Friday that around eight to ten community clinics that heavily relied on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Global Fund had to either pause, merge with bigger centers, or shift to online models.
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LoveYourself is "ready for these kinds of scenarios" but its other partners are not, Pagtakhan said. Some centers, like one trans health clinic in Quezon City, have had to stop operations.
LoveYourself is "ready for these kinds of scenarios" but its other partners are not, Pagtakhan said. Some centers, like one trans health clinic in Quezon City, have had to stop operations.
His group is looking for ways to support the clinics and make their operations sustainable in the long term, he told ABS-CBN News.
His group is looking for ways to support the clinics and make their operations sustainable in the long term, he told ABS-CBN News.
The US foreign aid cut, Pagtakhan also said, mainly affected LoveYourself's health and promotion programs as well as its campaigns, community outreach, and some support projects.
The US foreign aid cut, Pagtakhan also said, mainly affected LoveYourself's health and promotion programs as well as its campaigns, community outreach, and some support projects.
"As of now, we are continuing operations under the current support until the end of the US Fiscal Year this September," he said.
"As of now, we are continuing operations under the current support until the end of the US Fiscal Year this September," he said.
"Some programs have already been halted or are on hold due to the uncertainty."
"Some programs have already been halted or are on hold due to the uncertainty."
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Love Yourself, Inc. and other stakeholders hold a press conference on June 6, 2025 on the rising HIV cases in the Philippines. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
Love Yourself, Inc. and other stakeholders hold a press conference on June 6, 2025 on the rising HIV cases in the Philippines. Job Manahan, ABS-CBN NewsTrump ordered the cut in HIV funding as the Philippines was recording around 57 new HIV cases a day — many of them among young Filipinos — and as HIV awareness dropped among the youth.
Trump ordered the cut in HIV funding as the Philippines was recording around 57 new HIV cases a day — many of them among young Filipinos — and as HIV awareness dropped among the youth.
The country's HIV situation, now the worst in the Western Pacific region, prompted the Department of Health on Tuesday to push for the declaration of a public health emergency.
The country's HIV situation, now the worst in the Western Pacific region, prompted the Department of Health on Tuesday to push for the declaration of a public health emergency.
An emergency declaration would unlock more funds and boost efforts to control HIV transmission, similar to the declaration at the start of the COVID-19 crisis.
An emergency declaration would unlock more funds and boost efforts to control HIV transmission, similar to the declaration at the start of the COVID-19 crisis.
"While the increase in reported cases is concerning, it also reflects expanded testing, access to treatment, and greater community engagement—factors that were not as accessible a decade ago," Pagtakhan said.
"While the increase in reported cases is concerning, it also reflects expanded testing, access to treatment, and greater community engagement—factors that were not as accessible a decade ago," Pagtakhan said.
PAGTAKHAN STILL HOPEFUL FOR WAIVER
LoveYourself and hundreds of other private and public clinics and hospitals in the Philippines that have HIV programs also get support from the DOH, state insurer PhilHealth, and other local sources, especially for test kits and antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV.
LoveYourself and hundreds of other private and public clinics and hospitals in the Philippines that have HIV programs also get support from the DOH, state insurer PhilHealth, and other local sources, especially for test kits and antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV.
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Pagtakhan however said he is hopeful the US will grant "a waiver or transitional support... for essential HIV and AIDS programs, especially those that serve the most at-risk communities."
Pagtakhan however said he is hopeful the US will grant "a waiver or transitional support... for essential HIV and AIDS programs, especially those that serve the most at-risk communities."
The UN AIDS, on its website, said many HIV prevention programs supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) "have been stalled."
The UN AIDS, on its website, said many HIV prevention programs supported by the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) "have been stalled."
The agency said that while the Trump administration issued a limited waiver for some services, "it is not being fully implemented within countries, and the waiver excludes almost all HIV prevention services except those for pregnant and breastfeeding women."
The agency said that while the Trump administration issued a limited waiver for some services, "it is not being fully implemented within countries, and the waiver excludes almost all HIV prevention services except those for pregnant and breastfeeding women."
USAID and AC Health launch a partnership in November 2024 to expand the accessibility of HIV services in the Philippines. File photo
USAID and AC Health launch a partnership in November 2024 to expand the accessibility of HIV services in the Philippines. File photoOn Wednesday, the DOH said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed government to make HIV services more accessible to patients by streamlining processes in hospitals.
On Wednesday, the DOH said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has instructed government to make HIV services more accessible to patients by streamlining processes in hospitals.
LGBTQ+ RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES
Rhadem Musawah, communications officer of Mujer-LGBT Organization, a Zamboanga-based group that provides legal support to address gender-based violence in Mindanao, said Friday they had to let go of three personnel after the aid cuts in January.
Rhadem Musawah, communications officer of Mujer-LGBT Organization, a Zamboanga-based group that provides legal support to address gender-based violence in Mindanao, said Friday they had to let go of three personnel after the aid cuts in January.
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They also had to eventually shut down 13 of their locations in Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro region, he said.
They also had to eventually shut down 13 of their locations in Mindanao, including the Bangsamoro region, he said.
Musawah told ABS-CBN News that the slash in funding from the US also meant scaling back efforts on lobbying for anti-discrimination ordinances in Mindanao.
Musawah told ABS-CBN News that the slash in funding from the US also meant scaling back efforts on lobbying for anti-discrimination ordinances in Mindanao.
This could mean queer people there might struggle getting services, he said.
This could mean queer people there might struggle getting services, he said.
"Maraming members of LGBT ang nadi-discriminate [against] at hindi nakaka-access sa government services in relation to HIV and AIDS because of stigma, especially in Bangsamoro," he said.
"Maraming members of LGBT ang nadi-discriminate [against] at hindi nakaka-access sa government services in relation to HIV and AIDS because of stigma, especially in Bangsamoro," he said.
(Many members of the LGBT community face discrimination and are unable to access government services related to HIV and AIDS because of stigma, especially in the Bangsamoro.)
(Many members of the LGBT community face discrimination and are unable to access government services related to HIV and AIDS because of stigma, especially in the Bangsamoro.)
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"With the absence of SOGIE and anti-discrimination ordinances in this area, mas the more di nila maa-access 'yung health services on sexual rights ng LGBT. Basically connected siya."
"With the absence of SOGIE and anti-discrimination ordinances in this area, mas the more di nila maa-access 'yung health services on sexual rights ng LGBT. Basically connected siya."
(With the absence of SOGIE and anti-discrimination ordinance in this area, it becomes even harder for them to access health services related to the sexual rights of the LGBT community. It's all basically connected.)
(With the absence of SOGIE and anti-discrimination ordinance in this area, it becomes even harder for them to access health services related to the sexual rights of the LGBT community. It's all basically connected.)
The Philippines has yet to pass the anti-discrimination SOGIESC Equality Bill despite decades of clamor from LGBTQ+ groups.
The Philippines has yet to pass the anti-discrimination SOGIESC Equality Bill despite decades of clamor from LGBTQ+ groups.
PHILIPPINES URGED TO BE 'SELF-SUFFICIENT'
With the funding gap left by the US foreign aid cut, Red Whistle, one of the leading HIV advocacy organizations in the Philippines, urged the national government to include HIV programs in budget proposals and to lobby Congress for additional funding.
With the funding gap left by the US foreign aid cut, Red Whistle, one of the leading HIV advocacy organizations in the Philippines, urged the national government to include HIV programs in budget proposals and to lobby Congress for additional funding.
Red Whistle said the Philippine HIV Policy Act of 2018 already recognizes that HIV is a public health concern "with wide-ranging repercussions."
Red Whistle said the Philippine HIV Policy Act of 2018 already recognizes that HIV is a public health concern "with wide-ranging repercussions."
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Dr. Katerina Leyrita, medical director of Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) Inc., told a news conference Friday that with the cuts in HIV programs — which she warned could continue "in the near future" — the Philippines should become "self-sufficient" and stop relying on external funding.
Dr. Katerina Leyrita, medical director of Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) Inc., told a news conference Friday that with the cuts in HIV programs — which she warned could continue "in the near future" — the Philippines should become "self-sufficient" and stop relying on external funding.
She noted that some organizations that have projects funded by the USAID are now thinking of "closing" their programs.
She noted that some organizations that have projects funded by the USAID are now thinking of "closing" their programs.
When asked about additional measures to control the rising HIV cases, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said Tuesday that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa's membership on the UN AIDS Board is meant to help secure international support and resources.
When asked about additional measures to control the rising HIV cases, DOH spokesperson Albert Domingo said Tuesday that Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa's membership on the UN AIDS Board is meant to help secure international support and resources.
Domingo added that the DOH would intensify "stigma-free" primary care HIV screening, testing, and maintenance treatment.
Domingo added that the DOH would intensify "stigma-free" primary care HIV screening, testing, and maintenance treatment.
—with a report from Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News
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