Manila: Newly reported human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases in the country decreased by 39 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, according to the latest surveillance report from the Department of Health (DOH).
According to Philippines News Agency, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, the Philippine National AIDS Council shared that data from the One HIV/AIDS and STI Information System (OHASIS) showed that 2,994 confirmed HIV-positive cases were registered from April to June 2026, down from previous quarterly figures. This brings the average daily rate to 33 cases per day, reflecting a 35 percent drop from the preceding quarter.
Among the newly reported cases, 2,865 or 96 percent were males and 129 or 4 percent were females. Ages ranged from under one year to 79 years old, with a median age of 28. The 25-34 age bracket accounted for the largest share at 43 percent or 1,294 cases, followed by youth aged 15-24 at 31 percent or 918 cases.
Of the total Q2 diagnoses, 828 individuals or 28 percent had advanced HIV disease at the time of testing, marking a 45 percent decline compared to the same period in 2025. Since the country recorded its first HIV case in 1984, cumulative diagnoses reached 171,066 as of June 2026. Males comprise 94 percent or 161,529 of all cumulative cases, while females account for 6 percent or 9,527.
The National Capital Region (NCR) accounted for 19 percent or 567 cases of the new Q2 diagnoses, followed by Calabarzon with 11 percent or 338 cases, Central Luzon with 9 percent or 280 cases, Soccsksargen with 8 percent or 235 cases, and Western Visayas with 6 percent or 189 cases. Together, these five regions comprised 54 percent of all newly detected infections during the quarter.
As of June 2026, the DOH estimated that 288,000 People Living with HIV (PLHIV) reside in the country. Of this estimated total, 159,997, or 56 percent, have been formally diagnosed. About 69 percent or 111,154 of the diagnosed individuals enrolled in life-saving Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). About 57 percent of all PLHIV on ART achieved viral suppression (59 percent tested for viral load, of whom 97 percent achieved viral suppression).
Compared to the first quarter of 2026, diagnosis coverage improved by 2 percentage points and viral suppression among those on ART rose by 7 percentage points, though treatment coverage dipped by 3 percentage points. Uptake of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) continued its upward trajectory, with 9,640 new enrollees recorded in the second quarter. This reflects a 10-percent increase from the first quarter. Young adults aged 18 to 34 comprised 84 percent of new PrEP enrollees for the quarter.
NCR facilities accommodated the majority of new enrollees at 55 percent, followed by Calabarzon at 15 percent, and Central Visayas at 6 percent. Since PrEP was introduced in the Philippines in March 2021, a total of 107,567 clients have accessed the preventive medication. The DOH noted that testing infrastructure has expanded nationwide, with reporting Certified Rapid HIV Diagnostic Algorithm Confirming Laboratories (CrCLs) increasing from 26 facilities in 2021 to 195 as of mid-2026.
