ILOILO CITY — Health officials in Capiz province are raising the alarm after recording 934 HIV cases as of June 2025, noting a worrying trend of increased infections among younger residents.

Provincial Health Office (PHO) Health Program officer Carlo Paolo Bermejo said that while most cases still involve adults aged 25 to 34, infections among 15- to 24-year-olds are surging at an alarming rate.

“The cases are getting younger,” Bermejo said. “This age group is where the increase is most shocking — our HIV cases are trending toward the youth.”

Bermejo reminded the public that HIV spares no one, occurring regardless of age, gender, or social status.

While some early cases stem from mother-to-child transmission, the broader prevention strategy remains the ABCDE formula — Abstinence, Being faithful, Correct condom use, Don’t abuse drugs, and Early detection and treatment.

Officials are urging teenagers and young adults to take the threat seriously, stressing that early testing saves lives, protects partners, and helps prevent further spread.

In response to the data, the PHO pledged to intensify awareness campaigns, expand testing and treatment access, and strengthen community-based interventions.

“The data is speaking loudly,” Bermejo said. “It’s time for all of us to act.”