Baguio City—Although the prevalence of HIV in the Philippines is relatively low, the country’s anticondom advocacies could result in an “explosion” in the disease, a group of nongovernment organizations warned.

According to the Department of Health registry, as of October last year some 2,997 Filipinos are living with HIV, 30 percent of which have already become full-blown AIDS.

“Condom ban is making situation even worse. The ban isn’t helping in halting the spread of diseases. It will also lead to more unprotected sex,” said Dr. Junice Melgar, an official of the Philippine NGO Council on Population, Health and Welfare Inc., an umbrella organization of 95 nongovernment organizations.

Due to the principles of the Catholic Church exerting its influence in the Philippines, contraception, including the use of condoms, is not favored, said Dr. Melgar on Tuesday.

Dr. Melgar was alarmed over the fact that 23 percent of youngsters start their sex lives at age 15 to 24 and they have no proper sex education programs to warn against the sexually transmitted diseases, including AIDS.

Earlier, the Catholic Church supported the call of the Family Media Advocacy Foundation, AIDS-Free Philippines Inc. and Human Life International denouncing the contraceptive and condom advertisements being aired on radio and TV, saying that the advertisements directly promote sexual promiscuity among the young.

“The Church will never favor the use of artificial birth-control methods, especially with the use of condoms. But the Philippine government should not forget to promote public health-care education and to make contraceptives available to those who may choose to use it,” Dr. Melgar said.

Presidential guards among Lozada’s welcomers at Naia

SENATORS who went to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) for an ocular inspection, and to retrace the movement of national broadband network (NBN)-deal investigation witness Rodolfo Noel Lozada Jr., stumbled upon security logbooks that show that Presidential Security Group (PSG) personnel are among those who escorted Lozada out of the airport when he arrived February 5.

GEN. Hermogenes Esperon Jr., Armed Forces chief of staff, placed all military units around the country on Thursday under a “full state of preparedness” but clarified that the stance was not taken in preparation for Friday’s expected massive rally by antigovernment groups but by forces out to exploit the situation.

THE raging controversy over alleged commissions sought by certain officials for the aborted $329-million national broadband network (NBN) deal has sparked soul-searching—and new challenges—to business.

THREE Catholic bishops from Northern Philippines are calling for an “earnest” search for the truth, fair media treatment of raging issues and the investigation of controversies in legal venues.

Baguio City—Although the prevalence of HIV in the Philippines is relatively low, the country’s anticondom advocacies could result in an “explosion” in the disease, a group of nongovernment organizations warned.

PAMPANGA Gov. Eddie Panlilio on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to stop the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from implementing its resolution allowing the election protest of his political rival, Lilia Pineda, to proceed.

Malacañang on Wednesday thumbed down the request of Rodriguez Mayor Pedro Cuerpo to lift the 60-day suspension order of the Rizal provincial government against him as the concerned parties, including the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), have yet to comment and give its recommendations on the matter.