Gov. Imee R. Marcos welcomed Mr. Renaud Meyer, the Country Director of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on their visit here in Ilocos Norte last May 29, 2012. Meyer had his courtesy call together with Ms. Corazon Urquico, MDG’s and Poverty Reduction Team Leader and Mr. Antolin Fernando, UNDP’s Program Associate at the Provincial Capitol (PGIN), Laoag City.
Meyer’s group gave a presentation at the Session Hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan regarding one of UNDP’s main concerns, the exponential rise of new HIV or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) cases in the country.
Meyer said that the Philippines is one among the top seven countries worldwide wherein the widespread of AIDS is high and reported that the prevalence is more than 25% between 2001 to 2009. Also, Mayer highlighted the importance of the programs of their organizations that they are establishing in the countries like China, Taiwan Vietnam and including the Philippines.
In relation to this, the UNDP is collaborating with the country and the province of Ilocos Norte to establish the 17 Regional AIDS Assistance Teams (RAATs)- organized by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). The RAAT’s function includes the implementing of their action plan and empowering the community in establishing and strengthening the responses of local levels on AIDS.
The provincial government of Ilocos Norte, under the leadership of Gov. Imee R. Marcos has declared to support and coordinate with the goals of UNDP in localizing AIDS Response in the Philippines.
