The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing for the declaration of a national public health emergency after revealing a staggering 500% rise in HIV cases among Filipinos aged 15 to 25.
In a Facebook video message, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said HIV poses a far greater health risk in the Philippines than Mpox, citing the alarming increase in cases. The youngest patient diagnosed was a 12-year-old from Palawan.
“We now have the highest number of new HIV cases in the Western Pacific Region,” Herbosa noted, adding that the rising trend among the youth is deeply troubling.
If left unchecked, the number of people living with HIV in the Philippines could surge to 400,000, up from the current 148,831 confirmed cases. Between January and March 2025 alone, 5,101 new infections were recorded—up from 3,409 in the same period last year. That’s an average of 57 new cases per day.
Herbosa stressed that a national emergency declaration would mobilize the entire government and society in reducing new infections.
The DOH urged the public to take advantage of free and confidential HIV testing and to follow preventive measures, such as:
- Using condoms, lubricants, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- Undergoing regular consultations
- Taking antiretroviral therapy when necessary