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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Legarda backs DOH call to declare HIV a national public health emergency

Legarda backs DOH call to declare HIV a national public health emergency

Published Jun 3, 2025 01:28 pm

At A Glance

  • Sen. Loren Legarda said the alarming rise to 56 new cases per day from January to April—many involving Filipino youth—reflects a deepening public health and social crisis.

Senator Loren Legarda on Wednesday, June 4 said she supports the Department of Health’s call to declare HIV or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) saying the surge in the number of cases among youth is very alarming. 

“I support the DOH’s call to declare HIV a national public health emergency. The alarming rise to 56 new cases per day from January to April—many involving our youth—reflects a deepening public health and social crisis,” Legarda said in a statement.

“The case of a 13-year-old girl in Palawan—the youngest confirmed HIV case through sexual transmission in the region—underscores the vulnerability of our children and adolescents, and the urgent need for targeted, compassionate interventions,” she said.

The senator said it is imperative to remember that the ones negatively impacted in such cases are families and communities.

That is why it is important for the government to improve access to testing and strengthening HIV awareness and education. 

“While the youth are among the most affected, we must remember that HIV is a national concern—impacting families and communities across all sectors,” she lamented. 

“We must expand access to free and confidential testing, strengthen awareness and education, and build a more responsive health system that can sustain prevention, treatment, and care,” she stressed.

Legarda said she believes the government should make the health of the country’s youth a priority and provide interventions to curb the statistics.

“Our youth deserve every opportunity to live healthy, informed, and meaningful lives. Let us act with empathy, courage, and a strong sense of responsibility to protect the most vulnerable among us,” she said. 

DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa earlier reported a staggering 500 percent increase in HIV infections among those aged between 15 to 25 years. 

Herbosa said the youngest recorded infection is a 12-year old girl from Palawan who contracted the virus through sexual intercourse.

DOH Spokesperson Albert Domingo said social media and dating apps contributed to the alarming increase of HIV cases in the country.

Related Tags

HIV Loren Legarda DOH
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