DOH: 5,000 new HIV cases in PH from July to September

The Department of Health (DOH) has recorded 5,000 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in the country from July to September, Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said on Saturday.

In a 24 Oras Weekend report by JP Soriano, Herbosa reiterated that the Philippines is currently dealing with an HIV outbreak.

“Thirty percent of the new cases are below the age of 18. They are young. So ’yan, diyan ako naaalarma kasi for life na ’yung treatment (That is why I am alarmed, because the treatment is for life)," he said.

Earlier, the DOH called for the declaration of a national public health emergency after noting a 500% increase in HIV cases among young Filipinos.

As of June 2025, the country had 148,831 recorded HIV cases. A continued rise, Herbosa warned, could push the total to as high as 400,000.

In line with World AIDS Day, the DOH renewed its call for more young people to undergo HIV screening and urged the government to take a closer look at rising cases.

Meanwhile, the Quezon City local government has partnered with the University of the Philippines to strengthen awareness efforts and said it will update the NSTP HIV module for several academic institutions.—Jiselle Anne Casucian/MCG, GMA Integrated News