MANILA, Philippines?The Philippines continues to fall short of its sixth Millennium Development Goal, which is halting and reversing the spread of the dreaded human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) the incurable and fatal disease it causes, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

This was disclosed to the Inquirer by Teresita Marie Bagasao, country coordinator of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV-AIDS, or UNAIDS.

Interviewed Friday night during the AIDS candlelight memorial at Rajah Sulaiman Park in Manila, Bagasao said they were "very appreciative of the efforts" being made by the multisectoral Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) against the killer disease.

But PNAC needs "to do more," Bagasao asserted.

Citing government-issued progress reports on the campaign against HIV-AIDS, Bagasao said the country was "falling short" of MDG No. 6.

"Based on official reports, new infection rates are going up, not down," she pointed out.

In a UN report furnished to the Inquirer, the body's representative office in Manila disclosed that "while the country is still within the target of less than one percent of the population for HIV-AIDS, the rising number of HIV cases has become a cause for alarm as well."

The report said "HIV cases among the youth have been increasing at an unprecedented rate" and that cases "among the 15-24 age group nearly tripled."

"Aside from the youth, other vulnerable population (groups) include persons in prostitution and their clients, males who have sex with males, people who inject drugs, and overseas Filipino workers," said the same report.

The human immuno deficiency virus, or HIV, leads to AIDS, or the acquired immune deficiency syndrome, a condition in which the body's immune systems are attacked, weakened and disabled by the virus, ultimately leading to death.

Last month, the Department of Health?s National Epidemiology Center (NEC) warned that the number of HIV-AIDS cases in the country, which have been steadily climbing since 2007, may breach the 6,000-mark for the first time this year.

Based on NEC projections, new HIV infections may reach 1,500 "by Christmas 2010."

Dr. Eric Tayag, NEC director, told the recent HIV Summit in Manila: "The inconvenient truth is, the future is not bright. It's going to get worse."

Like Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, Bagasao stressed the need to "further intensify" the anti-HIV-AIDS drive.

According to Bagasao, "this may require both the public and private sectors to increase their funding contributions to the program."

For her part, Cabral has called for a "national coordinated response" to prevent the further spread of HIV-AIDS in the country.

An "aggressive response" to the epidemic is as essential as the treatment and care for HIV-infected persons, said Cabral.

Cabral, who is also PNAC chair, urged the public to keep in mind the "ABCDE" of the anti-HIV-AIDS drive?"Abstain from sex. Be faithful to your partner. Consistently use condoms. Do not use illegal drugs. And Educate yourself."

Anastacio Marasigan Jr., executive director of The Library Foundation, one of the organizers of this year's AIDS Candlelight Memorial, called for an "expanded coverage" of the campaign against HIV-AIDS.

"There's still a lot of things to be done, especially in the information drive," said Marasigan as he also expressed hope "people will start realizing that it's not just a health issue but also a human rights issue."

Between 1984 and 2010, the DOH recorded a total of 835 AIDS cases. During the period, more than 310 AIDS victims died.

During the past 26 years, at least 4,817 HIV cases have been registered by the DOH. Nearly 75 percent of the cases were males, 23 percent of whom were in the 25-29 age group.

Ninety percent of the HIV cases got the infection through sexual contact. The other modes of HIV transmission were needle-sharing among injecting drug-users, blood transfusions and mother-to-child infection.

Meanwhile, Dr. Chito Avelino, PNAC executive director, described as a "huge success" this year's AIDS Candlelight Memorial.

More than 1,200 anti-AIDS advocates attended the event, which aimed to "remember and honor those who have passed away due to AIDS" and "eradicate the stigma and discrimination brought about by the disease through education, advocacy and partnership."

Since 1983, the world has been commemorating the annual event, an initiative of the Global Health Council.

This year's memorial global theme is "Many Lights to Human Rights."

The Library Foundation and PNAC have added "Remember, Honor, Act" to the theme to "emphasize our solidarity with Filipinos living with HIV, as well as their loved ones."

Other groups which took part in the memorial include Positive Action Foundation Phils., Lesbian Advocates Phils., Remedios AIDS Foundation, 3rd World Movement Against the Exploitation of Women, Youth Health Corps, Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Sta. Isabel College, Diliman Preparatory School, Occupational Safety and Health Center, and representatives of the Philippine National Police, Philippine Air Force, Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Manila and Mandaluyong city governments.