A healthcare group urged greater youth involvement in fighting the country’s rising HIV cases, highlighting how young people’s active role has helped shape the national response.

During the “Red Alert: Youth Speak on the HIV Emergency” event organized by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) on Thursday at Hiraya Youth Hub in Taguig City, panelists advocated for comprehensive sexuality education and access to essential tools such as condoms and pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation Philippines Program Officer Neoman Roxas said HIV-related issues are often not treated as public health concerns, when they should be addressed urgently.

“It comes across issues like the family, the stigma in society. Yung prevention [of HIV], stigma. Doon sa condom use, stigma. Kaya sa amin sa AHF, we promote comprehensive sexuality education,” Roxas said.

Last month, the Department of Health reported a 500 percent increase in HIV cases among Filipinos aged 15 to 25 between 2010 and 2023. The agency has proposed declaring HIV a national public health emergency.

Aeronne Ara Pagtakhan of Fruity, an arm of Love Yourself organization, emphasized that these should be first taught at home by children’s parents, as it is affected by how sex is still taboo in the Philippines.

“Sex is something na kapag minention mo or you asked about it at an early age, they’re gonna say bata ka pa. But I feel like when they start getting curious, if you don’t give them the right answer, they will try to explore it themselves and will be more at risk.” Pagtakhan said.

Pagtakhan, who is also a registered nurse, told DAILY TRIBUNE that joining this movement of helping the youth with serious matters like HIV stemmed from when her uncle brought her with him to the World’s AIDS Conference in Germany last year. She noticed that their panelists who represent youth, the youngest was 50, and the 40-year-olds.

“Nung pag-uwi ko, sabi ko sa kanya na I feel like I can start something for the youth kasi malapit na akong umalis don [Germany]. Sana makapag-iwan man lang ako ng something for the youth.”

She also shared some of her experiences as a nurse, saying that more young people are testing positive for HIV, with some still wearing their school uniforms and IDs during testing. This made her realize how important it is to speak up for the youth when it comes to health issues—something she now feels she must do.

Dr. Joselito R. Feliciano, executive director of the Philippine National AIDS Council, said the agency has been coordinating with organizations that cater to the youth, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“We should really invest in the youth. Encourage them. Support them. Imagine, dati DOH lang ang umaaksyon dito [in handling HIV cases among the youth], pero ngayon we also have DSWD and even Sangguniang Kabataan (SK).” Feliciano said.

This stemmed from the 2024 HIV case, where around 49 percent of the youth ages 15-24 were recorded.