MANILA, 4 June, 2025–The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Philippines calls for immediate and intensified action to address the country’s rapidly escalating HIV epidemic, supporting the call of Department of Health for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to sign the pending Executive Order declaring HIV as an urgent public health concern requiring nationwide response.

The Philippines is currently experiencing the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the Asia Pacific region. Every day at least 57 people are diagnosed with the disease. Based on AIDS Estimates Modelling, the estimated number of new infections has increased by 543% from 2010 to 2023. There were an estimated 190,000 people living with HIV in 2023. As of March 2025, 139,610 people were diagnosed, while only 92,712 (66% of those diagnosed) are on life-saving treatment. Particularly alarming is the epidemic’s impact on young Filipinos, with 33% of new infections occurring among youth aged 15-24.

“The numbers paint a stark picture that demands urgent, coordinated action across all levels of government and society,” said Dr Louie Ocampo, UNAIDS Country Director. “We cannot afford to treat HIV as a health sector issue alone. This requires a whole-of-government, whole-of-society response.”

Critical Prevention Gap Identified

Despite the growing epidemic, prevention efforts remain severely underfunded, constituting only 6% or 211 million pesos of the total 3.6 billion peso HIV spending in 2023.  This critical gap is further compounded by the recent US funding pause, which has threatened critical innovations in prevention programs and community-led responses.

With reduced international funding as the Philippines transitions toward upper middle-income status, the government must urgently increase domestic investments in prevention. “We urge the Philippine National AIDS Council to immediately adopt the HIV Prevention Roadmap developed as part of the Philippines’ commitment to the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, while mobilizing increased allocations from the Department of Health, PhilHealth for prevention packages, and other relevant agencies .”

Executive Order Urgently Needed

UNAIDS is calling on President Marcos to expedite the signing of the Executive Order that would formally declare HIV and tuberculosis as urgent public health concerns. The order would mandate multisectoral collaboration, enhance private sector engagement, boost public awareness campaigns, increased investments, and ensure the availability of essential commodities nationwide.

“The Philippine National AIDS Council, the Department of Health, and community partners have shown exemplary leadership in developing this Executive Order,” said Dr Ocampo. “Now we need presidential action to unlock the full potential of a coordinated national response.”

Call for Strategic and Multi-sectoral Leadership

Drawing parallels to successful responses during health emergencies like measles, polio, and COVID-19, UNAIDS urges the assignment of a senior official to lead response intensification and mobilize critical agencies and local chief executives. This coordinated leadership must extend beyond the health sector, with all national government agencies and their local counterparts strengthening HIV education, serving as entry points for HIV services, and addressing underlying issues such as stigmatization, discrimination, and gender-based violence.

Equally vital are community-led organizations, which serve as trusted lifelines for the most marginalized populations and deliver essential HIV services, particularly prevention. UNAIDS emphasizes that government must recognize and fund their critical contribution through enhanced funding mechanisms and contracting systems at sub-national levels, noting that without community partnership, the response will fail.

Looking Forward

As the Philippines concluded its May 2025 elections, sustained political commitment across administration changes is imperative. With the country’s recent election to the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board, there is an opportunity to demonstrate regional leadership in HIV response.

“This is not just about numbers – behind every statistic is a Filipino life that matters,” Ocampo concluded. “We have the tools, the knowledge, and the commitment. What we need now is the political will and resources to act decisively.”

Contact

UNAIDS Philippines Country Director | Dr. Louie Ocampo | ocampol@unaids.org