Over 200 new cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in Western Visayas were logged in the First Quarter of 2025.

Based on data from the Department of Health (DOH) 6, new cases reached 257; most affected are persons ages 15 years old to 24 years old.

From 1988 to March 2025, DOH recorded a total of 6,242 cases.

A total of 1,369 of these cases has been handled by the Family Planning Organization of the Philippines (FPOP) Iloilo Chapter.

Cases involving persons ages 15 years old to 24 years old reached 443, or 33 percent of the total number of cases.

According to FPOP, a spike in the number of cases was observed the moment tests on persons ages 15 years old and above were conducted. In the previous procedure, only 18 years old and above were tested.

FPOP considers the spike alarming.

“Sometimes hindi nila alam na what they are doing is already very risky. And they are put into something like nagulat na lang sila, reactive na sila, and turned out people living with HIV,” according to Mona Liza Diones, FPOP Iloilo Chapter program manager.

The organization deals with HIV cases through the “one-stop shop” scheme. Like other related agencies and groups, FPOP Iloilo Chapter carries out interventions. One of its initiatives is to engage more parents to be privy about their children’s activities, especially involving risky behavior.

“They should know the activities of their children. Pagkatapos niyan, they should also be educated,” Diones added.

The Municipality of Pavia posted the second most number of HIV cases in Iloilo Province with a total of 151 cases. Four new cases were recorded in 2025.

The Local Youth Development (LYD) office of Pavia seeks to entice more youth participation in sports and cultural activities. The LYD office is also involved in the lobbying of stringent curfew implementation for minors.

“Especially mga curfew. Kon minsan kasi, lalo na kung gabi na, ang bata nag-i-explore,” Marc Anthony Janeo, Pavia LYD officer, said.

Despite efforts of the government and concerned groups, the decision to engage in safer, protected sex remains a prerogative of individuals who must be prudent about certain choices and preferences, FPOP implied.

(via GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas Desk)