NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
Special Report: The Alarming Rise Of HIV In The Philippines-A Growing Public Health Crisis
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HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system by targeting the very cells that fight infection. This weakens the body’s defenses and makes a person more vulnerable to illnesses. The virus is most commonly spread through unprotected sex or by coming into contact with infected bodily fluids, such as through shared needles. In the Philippines, the Department of Health reports that sexual contact remains the leading cause of HIV transmission, with 83 percent of recent cases involving male-to-male sex, followed by men who have sex with both males and females. Before 2007, most infections were the result of male-to-female transmission, but that pattern has shifted dramatically over the years.
While there is still no cure for HIV, it is highly manageable with antiretroviral therapy or ART, which reduces the viral load in the blood to undetectable levels and significantly lowers the risk of transmission. Two preventive options, pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP and post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, are available for those at risk. When taken properly, these medications can prevent infection. If left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the most advanced stage of the disease when the immune system is severely compromised.
The numbers today paint an alarming picture. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 5,101 new HIV cases were reported in the Philippines, a staggering 57-percent increase from the same period in 2024. This translates to an average of 57 Filipinos testing positive every single day. What’s even more worrying is that the epidemic is affecting younger people at an unprecedented rate. Most new cases now involve individuals under 35 years old, and there has been a sharp rise among those aged 15 to 24. The youngest case on record this year is a 12-year-old child from Palawan. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa warns that cases among Filipinos aged 15 to 25 have surged by 500-percent.
What is causing the numbers to climb so fast? Experts point to two factors. First, there is indeed more transmission happening, especially among young men who have sex with men. Second, there is also improved detection. Dr. Rheuel Bobis from DOH-Ilocos says the surge partly reflects more aggressive awareness campaigns and easier access to testing. Knowing your status early means starting treatment early, which protects your health and prevents the spread of the virus. But while testing has improved, late diagnosis is still a huge challenge. More people are arriving at treatment hubs with advanced HIV disease, a stage that greatly increases the risk of complications and death. This late detection is one reason why HIV-related deaths continue to rise. Since 1984, HIV-related deaths in the Philippines have reached 8,246, and annual fatalities keep increasing.
The Philippines now faces the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the entire Asia-Pacific region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Back in 2010, there were only 4,400 new cases. By 2024, that number exploded to 29,600, representing a 550-percent increase. If the current trend continues, projections show the number of Filipinos living with HIV could reach 252,800 by the end of this year and as many as 401,700 by 2030.
This is why the Department of Health is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare HIV a national public health emergency. Herbosa says declaring an emergency would bring the entire government and society into the fight, allowing faster response, more funding, and stronger public education. Both WHO and UNAIDS support this move, warning that urgent action is needed to reverse the trend.
The gaps in prevention and treatment remain alarming. The Philippines is far from meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95-percent of people with HIV to know their status, 95-percent of those to be on treatment, and 95-percent to achieve viral suppression. Today, only about 55-percent of people with HIV in the country know their status, 66-percent of those are on treatment, and just 40-percent have achieved viral suppression. Funding for prevention is also lacking. In 2023, only 211 million pesos—or about six percent of the HIV budget—went to prevention efforts. When a major U.S. funding program was paused, many community-led HIV programs were disrupted, leaving vulnerable groups with fewer resources.
Lawmakers are starting to take notice. On June 12, 2025, Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the alarming surge of HIV cases. He stressed the need to review existing policies, strengthen health education, and ensure that medicines and testing are accessible to all, particularly the youth, where infections are doubling at alarming rates.
Despite the grim numbers, there is hope. HIV is no longer a death sentence. Free services exist, and treatment is widely available. Secretary Herbosa points out that self-testing kits are now available in the Philippines and should be used more often. However, stigma remains a huge barrier. Too many people avoid testing out of fear of judgment. Herbosa urges the public to break the stigma and embrace safer sexual practices, such as using condoms, lubricants, and PrEP. For those who test positive, confirmatory tests are free at DOH treatment hubs, and antiretroviral therapy is covered by PhilHealth. As of March 2025, there are 299 DOH-accredited HIV treatment hubs and care facilities across the country providing counseling, medication, and long-term care.
“HIV is treatable and manageable. The earlier you know your status, the sooner you can start treatment and live a normal, healthy life,” Herbosa said. He also highlighted the need for stigma-free primary care HIV screening, regular testing, and maintenance treatment to be part of the country’s health system. The DOH continues to engage with global partners and UNAIDS to secure more resources and support.
The fight against HIV is no longer just a health issue. It is a national crisis that demands urgent action from government, communities, and individuals alike. The tools to control HIV exist. The question is whether the country will act fast enough before the situation spirals further out of control.
While there is still no cure for HIV, it is highly manageable with antiretroviral therapy or ART, which reduces the viral load in the blood to undetectable levels and significantly lowers the risk of transmission. Two preventive options, pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP and post-exposure prophylaxis or PEP, are available for those at risk. When taken properly, these medications can prevent infection. If left untreated, HIV can progress to AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the most advanced stage of the disease when the immune system is severely compromised.
The numbers today paint an alarming picture. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 5,101 new HIV cases were reported in the Philippines, a staggering 57-percent increase from the same period in 2024. This translates to an average of 57 Filipinos testing positive every single day. What’s even more worrying is that the epidemic is affecting younger people at an unprecedented rate. Most new cases now involve individuals under 35 years old, and there has been a sharp rise among those aged 15 to 24. The youngest case on record this year is a 12-year-old child from Palawan. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa warns that cases among Filipinos aged 15 to 25 have surged by 500-percent.
What is causing the numbers to climb so fast? Experts point to two factors. First, there is indeed more transmission happening, especially among young men who have sex with men. Second, there is also improved detection. Dr. Rheuel Bobis from DOH-Ilocos says the surge partly reflects more aggressive awareness campaigns and easier access to testing. Knowing your status early means starting treatment early, which protects your health and prevents the spread of the virus. But while testing has improved, late diagnosis is still a huge challenge. More people are arriving at treatment hubs with advanced HIV disease, a stage that greatly increases the risk of complications and death. This late detection is one reason why HIV-related deaths continue to rise. Since 1984, HIV-related deaths in the Philippines have reached 8,246, and annual fatalities keep increasing.
The Philippines now faces the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the entire Asia-Pacific region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). Back in 2010, there were only 4,400 new cases. By 2024, that number exploded to 29,600, representing a 550-percent increase. If the current trend continues, projections show the number of Filipinos living with HIV could reach 252,800 by the end of this year and as many as 401,700 by 2030.
This is why the Department of Health is calling on President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to declare HIV a national public health emergency. Herbosa says declaring an emergency would bring the entire government and society into the fight, allowing faster response, more funding, and stronger public education. Both WHO and UNAIDS support this move, warning that urgent action is needed to reverse the trend.
The gaps in prevention and treatment remain alarming. The Philippines is far from meeting the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets, which aim for 95-percent of people with HIV to know their status, 95-percent of those to be on treatment, and 95-percent to achieve viral suppression. Today, only about 55-percent of people with HIV in the country know their status, 66-percent of those are on treatment, and just 40-percent have achieved viral suppression. Funding for prevention is also lacking. In 2023, only 211 million pesos—or about six percent of the HIV budget—went to prevention efforts. When a major U.S. funding program was paused, many community-led HIV programs were disrupted, leaving vulnerable groups with fewer resources.
Lawmakers are starting to take notice. On June 12, 2025, Senator Jinggoy Estrada filed a resolution calling for a Senate inquiry into the alarming surge of HIV cases. He stressed the need to review existing policies, strengthen health education, and ensure that medicines and testing are accessible to all, particularly the youth, where infections are doubling at alarming rates.
Despite the grim numbers, there is hope. HIV is no longer a death sentence. Free services exist, and treatment is widely available. Secretary Herbosa points out that self-testing kits are now available in the Philippines and should be used more often. However, stigma remains a huge barrier. Too many people avoid testing out of fear of judgment. Herbosa urges the public to break the stigma and embrace safer sexual practices, such as using condoms, lubricants, and PrEP. For those who test positive, confirmatory tests are free at DOH treatment hubs, and antiretroviral therapy is covered by PhilHealth. As of March 2025, there are 299 DOH-accredited HIV treatment hubs and care facilities across the country providing counseling, medication, and long-term care.
“HIV is treatable and manageable. The earlier you know your status, the sooner you can start treatment and live a normal, healthy life,” Herbosa said. He also highlighted the need for stigma-free primary care HIV screening, regular testing, and maintenance treatment to be part of the country’s health system. The DOH continues to engage with global partners and UNAIDS to secure more resources and support.
The fight against HIV is no longer just a health issue. It is a national crisis that demands urgent action from government, communities, and individuals alike. The tools to control HIV exist. The question is whether the country will act fast enough before the situation spirals further out of control.
Sep 6, 2025
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