Free HIV testing, checkups as FPOP Iloilo turns 57

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY – The Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) Iloilo Chapter marked its 57th anniversary on Aug. 28 with a free medical outreach, the launch of a mobile health van, and the introduction of its new building site on Quezon Street.

The celebration was held in partnership with the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Australian Aid.

Activities focused on expanding access to health services and addressing concerns affecting communities and young people.

FPOP is the Philippine member association of IPPF. It was founded on Aug. 4, 1969, from the merger of the Family Planning Association of the Philippines and the Planned Parenthood Movement of the Philippines, and was registered that year as a non-stock, non-profit organization.

FPOP Iloilo program manager Mona Liza Diones said the celebration was an opportunity to expand the organization’s reach and bring health services closer to communities.

Residents from 10 adopted communities took part in the activities.

About 400 beneficiaries were targeted for the medical outreach, which was conducted with partner organizations including Lions Clubs International.

“We offered a wide array of activities,” Diones said, noting that the celebration also featured youth-led activities and free HIV testing.

The testing component comes as national surveillance shows a widening epidemic. Department of Health data placed total reported HIV infections at 163,454 from January 1984 to December 2025, with 45 percent of new cases in the fourth quarter aged 25 to 34 and 32 percent aged 15 to 24. UNAIDS and the World Health Organization have described the Philippines as having the fastest-growing number of HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region.

Diones added that FPOP Iloilo continues to prioritize highly populated barangays in delivering health interventions.

As part of the medical mission, beneficiaries were assisted in registering for the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) YAKAP, or Yaman ng Kalusugan Program.

YAKAP is PhilHealth’s primary healthcare program, which seeks to provide eligible members with access to preventive and primary care services through accredited healthcare providers.

The program is the expanded version of the earlier Konsulta package. PhilHealth in Western Visayas said the covered drug list rose from 21 to 75 medicines and laboratory and cancer tests from 13 to 19, with PHP 20,000 in annual outpatient drug coverage for each member and dependent.

PhilHealth personnel conducted an orientation on how to register for and use YAKAP services during the activity.

FPOP Iloilo also coordinated with YAKAP-accredited doctors to help connect participants with primary care services.

Diones stressed that the medical outreach was not meant to be a one-time intervention.

Youth leaders said FPOP Iloilo is also strengthening its efforts to address health and social concerns affecting young people.

Kabataang Ilonggo Chairperson Carla Mae Noblejas and FPOP Iloilo youth coordinator John Christian Porras said their programs include comprehensive sexuality education and discussions on teenage pregnancy, mental health, and other concerns faced by adolescents.

Noblejas cited teenage pregnancy as one of the issues the group seeks to address through comprehensive sexuality education, which provides young people with information to make informed decisions about their health and relationships.

She also highlighted the organization’s intergenerational approach, which involves young people and adults in discussions on issues affecting the youth.

Porras said the youth-led activities are part of FPOP Iloilo’s continuing efforts to provide young people with information and opportunities to participate in addressing concerns in their communities.