Filipino youth are now the face of the country’s HIV epidemic, with those aged 15 to 34 making up 77% of new confirmed cases recorded in the first quarter of this year, according to the Philippine National AIDS Council.
PNAC Executive Director Dr. Joselito Feliciano raised the figures during an interview on DZRH’s Special on Saturday on May 23, describing the trend as deeply alarming.
“Karamihan po talaga ng mga nagiging kaso ngayon ay galing sa kabataan. Talagang napaka-alarming po nito,” Feliciano said.
Within the 15-to-34 age group, the youngest segment is driving a significant share of infections—those aged 15 to 24 account for 31% of all new cases in the first quarter.
The council recorded 4,633 new confirmed HIV cases from January to March alone, a pace that Feliciano warned could push the full-year total to around 20,000.
Most cases are concentrated in urban regions—NCR, Region 3, Calabarzon, Region 7, and Region 11—where Feliciano said economic activity and population density appear to be factors.
The dominant mode of transmission among new cases remains male-to-male sexual contact, a shift from the early years of the epidemic when female sex workers comprised the majority of diagnosed cases.
To address the surge among young people, Feliciano said multiple government agencies have been mobilized, including the Department of Education, the National Youth Commission, and the Sangguniang Kabataan.
“Unti-unti sa tamang kaalaman, matatanggal po natin ‘yang stigma at diskriminasyon pagdating sa HIV,” he said, citing the role of accurate information in changing public attitudes toward people living with the virus.
Feliciano called on parents and religious organizations to strengthen values formation at home, while urging local government units to allocate budget for HIV programs and partner with civil society groups on implementation.
Treatment, he emphasized, is free through nearly 200 government health facilities nationwide—but only reaches those who get tested first.
“Isa lang po ang pamamaraan para malaman na ang isang tao ay may HIV—sa pamamagitan po ng pagpapa-test,” Feliciano said.
