The Regional AIDS Assistance Team (RAATs) of Region IX convened for a coordination meeting in preparation for the Organization of Local AIDS Council (LAC) cum Orientation on HIV and AIDS of Zamboanga del Sur. The meeting was held on September 28, 2011 at the DILG Conference Room, Pagadian City.

DILG IX Assistant Regional Director Pedro G. Cuevas, Jr. presided over the meeting. He gave a backgrounder of this UNDP programme, a little HIV and AIDS situationer and the basis of the formation of the RAAT. DILG RAAT Anita R. Casipong, LGOO V presented the updates and accomplishments by the RAATs as well as the challenges and the next steps to be taken by the team in the region. DSWD RAAT Elizabeth L. Dy, Social Welfare Officer IV also provided some inputs regarding the case conference that their agency will be conducting and she also gave details of the services they are providing to PLHIV who are infected and their families who are the affected.

The coordination meeting was attended by almost everyone invited. Ms. Elizabeth Dy, DSWD Regional Office RAATs, Ms Clarissa J. Jose and Dr. Rolando Bucoy, DOH RAAT was represented by Mr. Ulysses Briones, Assistant Provincial Health Team Leader of the DOH Provincial Office, also present were Ms. Emma Caprio, LGOO V, GAD Focal Person and Ms. Rhea Romanos, LGOO II, of DILG Provincial Office, Ms. Conchita San Diego, Provincial Social Welfare Officer and Ms. Ermeline Bacatay, Social Welfare Office IV. From the Local Government Capability Development Division, Chief Ginagene Vano Uy was represented by Ms. Flora Cuevas, LGOO V.

Among the agenda for discussion were the following:
• Identification of LGUs based on vulnerability classification criteria;
• Naming of target participants;
• Topics for discussion;
• Schedule of the training;
• Assignment of resource persons; and
• Other matters

The following were the agreements reached by the team:

Based on the vulnerability classification criteria, the following LGUs were identified by the participants of the meeting:
• Dimataling
• Tambulig
• Molave
• Margosatubig