In 2005, the Philippines launched its 4th AIDS Medium Term Plan, a road map for the national HIV response from 2005-2010.

The Plan includes a new push to expand universal access to HIV prevention, care and treatment among highly vulnerable groups, including FSWs and their clients, IDUs, MSM, and OFWs.
 

The national strategy against HIV includes mobilizing and involving all sectors including the Catholic Church, continuing implementation of surveillance and research systems on the HIV epidemic, and focusing on local HIV interventions. Now, 32 public VCT centres are available with trained staff.

Generic ARV drugs are provided free of charge to adults and children living with HIV.

Foreign Service Officers receive training from the Foreign Service Institute in collaboration with the career development arm of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs of DFA and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. In addition, the Positive Response: Guidebook on Handling Migration and HIV/AIDS Issues for Foreign Service Personnel has been developed and made available in all 89 foreign posts along with a 33 minute HIV awareness video for OFWs.

Most receiving countries require departing migrants to undergo mandatory HIV testing. Despite this, the government mandated pre-departure seminars do not always deliver accurate health information and quality HIV counseling and testing services.

Overseas workers must undergo a medical examination after the recruitment agency or the destination country employer interviews and pre qualifies them. Tests for HIV, TB and pregnancy are also mandatory. Some destination countries require overseas workers to go through another round of medical tests upon arrival.

The AIDS Law in the Philippines guarantees confidentiality of HIV test results, but test results including HIV are sent directly to the recruitment agency.

By 2010, the 4th Aids Medium Term Plan aims to provide all migrants with access to improved HIV prevention and information services, information and referral sites in destination countries, reintegration programmes, and testing centres with quality assurance surveys and strategies.

Pre-departure and post-arrival prevention and care programmes need to be further developed.