Biri: The island town of Biri in Northern Samar has opened an HIV Treatment Hub to strengthen healthcare service delivery for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention, free testing, counseling, and treatment, officials announced. The Department of Health (DOH) has authorized Biri District Hospital to operate as a treatment hub, improving early detection and reducing transmission risk through increased access to care.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jhon Allen Berbon, the provincial information officer, stated that treatment hubs located in provincial government-managed hospitals receive uniform support and priority training to serve people living with HIV. Citing DOH Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit data, Berbon reported that Northern Samar logged 361 HIV cases from 1984 to November 2025, with 192 patients receiving treatment last year. At least 60 new cases were detected in 2025.

"We have confirmed cases in all 24 municipalities, including Biri. It would be difficult for patients in Biri Island to regularly get their medications and follow-up in Allen or Catarman," Berbon noted. Prior to the Biri hub, the government operated treatment hubs at Allen District Hospital, Northern Samar Provincial Hospital in Catarman, and GB Tan Memorial Hospital in Laoang.

Biri Island, with a population of 11,005 as of 2024, is one of the province's smaller towns and is known for its rock formations.