DepEd Iloilo, youth group expand HIV education

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Education’s Schools Division of Iloilo and youth-led organization Team Dugong Bughaw Inc. have partnered to expand students’ access to age-appropriate HIV education and sexual and reproductive health information in the province.

The organizations signed a memorandum of understanding on Nov. 3, 2026, establishing a framework for school-based campaigns, teacher training, peer education, and digital learning materials on HIV, AIDS, and adolescent health.

The partnership aims to make accurate, evidence-informed information on sexual and reproductive health and rights more accessible to young people, Team Dugong Bughaw said.

“We recognize that many young people have questions about their health but do not always have safe, reliable, and welcoming spaces where they can ask them,” the organization said in a statement to Daily Guardian.

“Through this partnership, we hope to help bridge that gap by developing engaging learning materials, introducing gamified discussions, and equipping teachers and school personnel with the knowledge and tools to facilitate these conversations,” it added.

Under the agreement, Team Dugong Bughaw will develop materials tailored to young people, including digital presentation slides, scenario discussion cards, gamified learning kits, and multimedia modules.

It will also provide resource speakers, facilitators, clinical advisers, and peer educators for training activities involving teachers, nurses, guidance counselors, and student leaders.

The organization will support school-based health fairs and awareness campaigns through its signature Project High Five initiative.

It will also help facilitate access to voluntary, confidential HIV screening and testing through accredited health care partners.

DepEd Iloilo will identify school personnel and student leaders to participate in the activities.

The division will also designate qualified personnel to review educational materials for scientific accuracy, age-appropriateness, and consistency with the K-12 health curriculum and department policies.

Team Dugong Bughaw said the initiative would benefit students navigating adolescence, as well as teachers and school personnel who need resources and training to discuss health concerns with greater confidence.

“We hope to see young people who are more informed, confident, and comfortable making decisions about their health and well-being,” the organization said.

“We want them to know that asking questions is OK, that seeking information should never be a source of shame, and that they deserve access to reliable information,” it added.

The agreement also requires parental or legal guardian consent, where applicable, for activities involving minors, particularly specialized activities, HIV testing linkages, and sensitive reproductive health surveys.

Under Republic Act No. 11166, people ages 15 to 17 can consent to voluntary HIV testing without parental or guardian consent.

Parents and guardians must be informed of school-based campaigns before they are conducted.

Information gathered through activities and surveys may be used by Team Dugong Bughaw for research and educational purposes, provided the data are anonymized and aggregated.

The agreement prohibits the disclosure of students’ and teachers’ personally identifiable information or confidential medical records without explicit informed consent.

The partnership is consistent with Republic Act No. 11166, or the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, which calls for age-appropriate instruction on HIV transmission and prevention in public and private learning institutions.

The law also calls for human rights-based education and information on treatment and care to help reduce stigma.

The Department of Health reported 189 newly diagnosed HIV cases in Western Visayas from April to June 2026, the fifth-highest regional total for the quarter.

Nationwide, 2,994 confirmed cases were reported during the same period.

For Team Dugong Bughaw, the agreement is an opportunity to extend its decade-long HIV education and advocacy work to more young people.

“We may not see the impact of every lesson or conversation, but if even one young person becomes better informed, makes a healthier decision, or feels less alone because of what they learned, then we know this work is making a difference,” the organization said.