The number of young Filipinos infected with human immunodeficiency virus has increased by 500% prompting the Department of Health to request for the declaration of a national public health emergency for HIV.

In a report on GMA News Online, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a video message posted on Facebook that the bigger health problem in the country now is not Mpox but HIV.

"Five hundred percent increase po tayo ng HIV cases sa mga edad 15 hanggang 25. In fact, ang pinakabatang na-diagnose natin ay batang 12-anyos sa probinsiya ng Palawan," he said.

(There was a 500% increase in HIV cases among Filipinos aged 15 to 25. In fact, the youngest we diagnosed was a 12-year old child from Palawan.)

"Sa datos natin tayo na ang pinakamataas na new cases sa Western Pacific Region. Ang nakakatakot lang maraming new cases sa ating kabataan," he added.

(Based on our data, we have the highest number of new cases in the Western Pacific Region. What is disturbing is many of the new cases are from the young people.)

He expressed concern that if the trend will not be stopped the number of people living with HIV in the country could reach 400,000.

At present, there are 148,831 cases of HIV in the country.

The DOH said in the first three months of the 2025, a total of 5,101 HIV cases were confirmed. This was higher than the 3,409 confirmed cases the same period of 2024.

The Health Department said this means 57 new cases were recorded everyday from January to March 2025.

"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. 

(It is better if we would have a declaration of national public health emergency for HIV because the whole of society and the whole of government can help us in this campaign to lower the number of new cases of HIV.)

The DOH urged the public to avail of the following preventive measures:

• take the HIV test which is free and confidential
• practice the Combination Prevention Method including using condom, lubricant and pre-exposure prophylaxis medicine which reduces risk of HIV infection
• have regular consultation and take antiretroviral therapy for those who need it.