Manila, July 7 -- A bill filed in the Senate seeks to close a gap in the country's HIV law by allowing diagnosed minors to move from testing to treatment without being blocked by unsafe consent requirements, confidentiality risks, or PhilHealth paperwork.

Senator Risa Hontiveros said Tuesday she filed Senate Bill No. 2307 seeking to amend the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act by strengthening access of minors living with HIV to antiretroviral therapy and other treatment, care, and support services.

Under the measure, minors aged 15 to below 18 who are diagnosed with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) may give informed consent to HIV-related care, provided they undergo a documented capacity assessment by an authorized health profession...