Quezon City leads fight amid HIV surge

The Quezon City local government on Sunday said it remains at the forefront of the HIV and AIDS response despite a 500 percent national increase reported by the Department of Health.

From January to May 2025, Quezon City recorded 421 new HIV diagnoses, up 7.7 percent from the same period in 2024. Thirty-five percent, or 149, are aged 15 to 24, with 40 percent of them students.

“With the significant increase of cases among ages 15 to 24, we make sure that all of them are receiving the treatment they need in our city’s Social Hygiene Clinics,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said.

HIV testing also rose steadily, with more than 21,000 tested in the first five months of 2025 — a 16.7 percent increase from 2024.

“We are strengthening our testing capacities so that we will be able to find those with HIV and link them to treatment,” Quezon City epidemiologist Dr. Rolando Cruz said. “Because more tests mean more people are aware of their status, and that allows us to respond faster. The first step in fighting any epidemic is information.”

The city has Social Hygiene and Sundown Clinics in five districts and will open Klinika Talipapa in District 6 by 2026, offering free HIV testing, treatment, and counseling, including PrEP and PEP.

Klinika Eastwood’s “Drive, Park, and Test” program lets clients get tested from their vehicles. The Quezon City Service Delivery Network (SDN) links those diagnosed to treatment and support services.

To engage youth, the city launched Hakdaw Kabataan, a partnership between the Sangguniang Kabataan and HIV & AIDS Support House. The program trains young volunteers as Community-Based HIV Screening Motivators, testing nearly 2,000 people in 2024.

Since March 2024, the City Health Department has also worked with parent-teacher associations and schools to raise awareness and conduct on-campus testing.