15/06/2025
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ , ๐๐ญ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ค, ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ซ๐ข๐ฌ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐ข๐ญ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐
๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ฉ๐ข๐ง๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก
In a country where taboos still choke conversations around s*x education and health, an invisible storm is building. The Philippines is facing an alarming surge in HIV cases, especially among its youth.
The Department of Health (DOH) has revealed that cases among individuals aged 15 to 25 have risen by a staggering 500%โa trend so concerning that DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa has proposed declaring HIV a national public health emergency.
This isnโt a distant issue anymore. Itโs hitting students, teenagers, and young professionals. โIn fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay dose anyos po sa probinsya ng Palawan (The youngest diagnosed case is a 12-year-old in the province of Palawan),โ Herbosa said in a recent message. That statement alone should stop us in our tracks. How did we get here, and more importantly, why did we let it get this bad?
HIV, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus, is a virus that directly attacks the immune systemโthe bodyโs defense against infections. Over time, if left untreated, HIV can weaken this system so much that the person becomes vulnerable to illnesses that would normally be easy to fight off. This advanced stage of HIV is called AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), where even common colds or minor infections can become life-threatening.
However, modern medicine has made it possible for people with HIV to live long and healthy livesโif they are diagnosed early and start consistent treatment. The standard treatment is called antiretroviral therapy (ART). These are daily medications that stop the virus from multiplying inside the body.
With ART, the amount of virus becomes so low that it canโt be detected in a personโs bloodโand when HIV is undetectable, itโs also untransmittable. So if we have the tools, why are more young Filipinos still getting infected?
One reason lies in what public health experts call an information gap. Many Filipino youth are growing up without access to accurate, science-based information about HIV and s*xual health. S*x education is still seen as controversial, and in many schools, it is skipped or only lightly discussed. This leaves teenagers unsure of how the virus spreads, how to protect themselves, and what to do if they think they might be at risk. Without guidance, myths and misinformation often take the place of facts.
DOH data confirms that the most common way HIV is transmitted in the Philippines is still through s*xual contactโparticularly among males who have s*x with males (MSM). This pattern has been consistent since 2007. Many young people are afraid to seek testing or treatment, especially if they fear being judged for their identity or actions.
These fears can delay diagnosis and treatmentโsometimes until itโs too late. According to the DOH, 148,831 HIV cases have been recorded in the Philippines since 1984. Alarmingly, over 5,100 new cases were recorded just in the first three months of 2025. That averages to 57 new infections every single day.
If left unchecked, the rise in HIV cases will put more Filipino youth at risk of lifelong treatment, health complications, and stigma. Early action, testing, and education are crucialโbecause once infected, thereโs no cure, only lifelong management.
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Written by Alodia Gwyneth Navarro
Layout by Maxene Santos & Trisha Pangilinan
