THE Department of Health (DOH) has proposed the declaration of a national public health emergency due to a significant increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases across the country.
On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the DOH reported a 44 percent year-on-year increase in HIV cases from January to April, with 6,703 new infections recorded. These new cases brought the total number of people living with HIV in the country to 150,433 as of April.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa stated that, according to recent studies, the Philippines has the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the Western Pacific Region.
Daily HIV cases increased from 21 in 2014 to 48 in 2024. DOH data show the current daily average is 56 cases.
Herbosa emphasized that HIV is a more significant problem than mpox. “So ang malaking problema po natin ay hindi monkeypox kundi ang paglaganap ng HIV… Ang nakakatakot lang napakadaming new cases po sa ating mga kabataan,” he said. (So our bigger problem isn’t monkeypox, but the rapid spread of HIV… What’s alarming is that there are so many new cases among our youth.)
Cases in Cebu City
In Cebu City, 110 new HIV cases were recorded during the first quarter of 2025, according to Dr. Kimberly Mae Sanchez, social hygiene physician of the Cebu City Health Department (CCHD), during a news forum on Tuesday. This local data emerges as the nation grapples with a broader surge in infections.
According to Herbosa, many new cases involve individuals aged 15 to 25; the youngest confirmed case is a 12-year-old from Palawan.
The DOH has observed a shift in the age demographic of HIV diagnoses over the past two decades. Since 2006, the most affected age group changed from 35-49 years to 25-34 years. This trend indicates a younger population is at risk.
Four of every five diagnosed cases involve individuals younger than 35. Among this group, half are between 25 and 34 years old, and 30 percent are aged 15 to 24.
At the CCHD, Sanchez expressed concern over the continued rise in cases, especially as most of the newly diagnosed patients are between 15 and 34 years old. She pointed out that common reasons for HIV acquisition among CCHD clients were increased “men-to-men” sexual activities and injectable drug use.
In 2024, Cebu City logged a total of 477 cases. Sanchez was not able to provide comparative data for the first quarter of 2024.
Prevention, awareness
The DOH reminded the public of HIV preventive measures, such as taking an HIV test, which is free and confidential. Other measures include practicing the combination prevention method, which involves using condoms, lubricant, and pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine to reduce infection risk, and undergoing consultation and antiretroviral therapy for those who need it.
“Kaya maganda na magkaroon tayo ng national public health emergency for HIV dahil magtutulong-tulong ang buong lipunan, whole of society and whole of government can help us in this campaign na mapababa ang new cases of HIV,” Herbosa said. (That’s why it would be good to declare a national public health emergency for HIV, so that the entire society and all levels of government can work together in this campaign to reduce new HIV cases.)
The CCHD, for its part, is urging increased awareness, early testing, and education to address the growing trend among youth and young adults. Sanchez said that myths need to be debunked, such as the idea of not getting near people living with HIV (PLHIV) or acquiring the virus through mosquito bites.
“Pwede ra gyud kaayo mugakos (Hugging is allowed), even share food with PLHIV,” she said. Sanchez has been advocating for the incorporation of PLHIV into the community. “It’s like they’re taking medicines for their maintenance. It’s like diabetes, high blood, they need to drink maintenance for their body to remain healthy,” she said.
Nationwide, the DOH aims for a 95 percent success rate each in HIV diagnosis, treatment reception, and viral load suppression by 2030. Sanchez reported that current national figures stand at 55 percent for diagnosis, 66 percent for treatment reception, and 40 percent for viral suppression, though she assured that these percentages have been increasing over the years. / TPM, JPS