The Department of Health (DOH) is pushing to declare a national public health emergency in the country due to the alarming 500% increase in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases.
According to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, HIV, not monkeypox (MPOX), is the biggest problem the country is facing now.
“We have a 500% increase in HIV cases among those aged 15 to 25,” Herbosa said.
Based on the DOH report, the youngest diagnosed with HIV is a 12-year-old from Palawan.
Herbosa is also concerned that if the trend is not stopped, HIV cases could reach 400,000.
Currently, there are 148,831 HIV cases in the country.
According to data for the first three months of 2025, there are 5,101 recorded HIV cases, which translates to an average of 57 new cases daily.
Herbosa said declaring a national public health emergency means the entire nation will work together to reduce HIV cases.
Abner is an award-winning journalist. He received the prestigious 2015 Titus Brandsma Award for Community Communication in the Philippines and participated in the 2016 International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States of America, sponsored by the US Embassy in the Philippines. Founder of WATCH NORTH COTABATO, a media-citizens’ transparency group. He worked as a correspondent for the Philippine Daily Inquirer and CNN Philippines. His experience in broadcasting includes anchoring for Brigada News FM in Kidapawan and General Santos City and Brigada News TV. He anchors Tira Brigada via 105.1 Brigada News FM Manila, Mondays-Saturdays.