Section 45Sec./Art. 45

Membership and composition. – (a) The Council shall be composed of twenty-six (26) members as follows:

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Health;

(2) The Secretary of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports or his representative;

(3) The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education or his representative;

(4) The Director-General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority or his representative;

(5) The Secretary of the Department of Labor and Employment or his representative;

(6) The Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development or his representative;

(7) The Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government or his representative;

(8) The Secretary of the Department of Justice or his representative;

(9) The Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority or his representative;

(10) The Secretary of the Department of Tourism or his representative;

(11) The Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management or his representative;

(12) The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs or his representative;

(13) The Head of the Philippine Information Agency or his representative;

(14) The President of the League of Governors or his representative;

(15) The President of the League of City Mayors or his representative;

(16) The Chairperson of the Committee on Health of the Senate of the Philippines or his representative;

(17) The Chairperson of the Committee on Health of the House of Representatives or his representative;

(18) Two (2) representatives from organizations of medical/health professionals;

(19) Six (6) representatives from non-government organizations involved in HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts or activities; and

(20) A representative of an organization of persons dealing with HIV/AIDS.

(b) To the greatest extent possible, appointment to the Council must ensure sufficient and discernible representation from the fields of medicine, education, health care, law, labor, ethics and social services;

(c) All members of the Council shall be appointed by the President of the Republic of the Philippines, except for the representatives of the Senate and the House of Representatives, who shall be appointed by the Senate President and the House Speaker, respectively;

(d) The members of the Council shall be appointed not later than thirty (30) days after the date of the enactment of this Act;

(e) The Secretary of Health shall be the permanent chairperson of the Council; however, the vice-chairperson shall be elected by its members from among themselves, and shall serve for a term of two (2) years; and

(f) For members representing medical/health professional groups and the six (6) non-government organizations, they shall serve for a term of two (2) years, renewable upon recommendation of the Council.