Regional AIDS Assistance Teams

The RAATs was created by virtue of PNAC Resolution No. 3 dated 27 April 2007 to facilitate the development and scaling up of local AIDS responses in the country. RAATs are made up of focal persons from three departments:

• Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)
• Department of Health (DOH)
• Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Pursuant to the 4^th AMTP which seeks to put in place institutional mechanisms to strengthen the local government capacity to implement a sustained, coordinated, and multisectoral AIDS response, the RAATs shall work towards developing a comprehensive program at all levels of governance to remain responsive to the current and emerging needs, and to effectively utilize strategic partnerships and maximize the overall effectiveness of government-led and community-based interventions.   

In addition to their technical support role, the RAATs shall serve as advocates at the local level with the view of gaining commitment and action of leaders from the political and civil society sectors.

• In general, the RAATs shall effect the overall administration of the regional team and the complementation of activities between and among DOH, DILG, and DSWD.  RAATs should pursue its PPAs in a holistic lens where the point of view of the LGUs is given more priority, and not as separate agencies working only as per their agency mandate.
• DILG- responsible in the coordination and provision of technical assistance in support to HIV and AIDS prevention programs through the establishment of local coordinating bodies like the LAC, and to advocate the resource allocation thereof;  policy formulation, and enjoining local government officials and functionaries to be compliant to HIV and AIDS-related laws and policies.
• DSWD- shall ensure that local counterparts are updated with policies, issuances, and psychosocial interventions related to HIV and AIDS especially in the care and support services for persons living with HIV and AIDS and their affected families.
• DOH- shall provide general and strategic direction in health-related response to HIV and AIDS through its Infectious Disease Cluster.

The team shall have the following roles and functions:

• Technical Assistance - provide advisory and professional support services to local counterparts, local government units, and other local stakeholders in building, strengthening, and sustaining local HIV and AIDS responses.
• Capacity Building -  conduct activities to equip stakeholders in providing needed local response on HIV and AIDS concerns.
• Coordination and Networking - regularly meet for updates, planning and coordination of activities in order to strengthen roles of local counterparts in addressing issues and concerns in support to their local responses.  This shall include support to resource mobilization by identifying and building internal and external networks and partnerships with NGOs, private businesses, faith-based organizations, and media.
• Information Management - disseminate updated, accurate, relevant, and comprehensive information including research (e.g. mapping of most-at-risk and vulnerable LGUs in the region that highly need to develop local responses to HIV and AIDS) about national and local epidemic situations to policy-makers, program managers and implementers, and other stakeholders in the LGU.
• Advocacy - identify and support champions from different stakeholders in their region that could help in strengthening local response.
• Monitoring - monitor and evaluate respective agency’s regional data and situation that could be used by LGUs to tailor its HIV and AIDS response.

Joint Memorandum Circular: Guideline on the Formation and Operation on Regional AIDS Assistance Teams

A Joint Memorandum Circular between DILG, DOH, and DSWD to strengthen the interface, coordination, and complementation of their RAATs activities.