DoH broadens HIV shield, includes foreign tourists
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The Department of Health (DoH) said it has expanded its HIV prevention campaign to include foreign travelers, aiming to reduce local transmission, address regional gaps and encourage more people to undergo testing.
The department said free, confidential HIV prevention and testing services are available to both Filipinos and foreign tourists at DoH-accredited HIV treatment hubs and testing facilities nationwide.
Services include counseling, HIV screening, and the provision of condoms, lubricants, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP).
The Philippines’ HIV response is guided by Republic Act 8504, or the Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998. The DoH has since expanded access to prevention services, including the rollout of PrEP in 2020.
In March 2026, the DoH issued Administrative Order 2026-0005, which updated national guidelines for delivering PrEP and PEP through treatment facilities and community-based service providers.
The department said the campaign launched in June emphasizes that HIV prevention, testing and treatment services are available to foreign tourists as well as Filipino citizens.
Data from the first quarter of 2026 estimated that about 252,800 people have been living with HIV in the Philippines.
The HIV/AIDS and ART Registry of the Philippines reported 168,079 laboratory-confirmed HIV cases recorded since surveillance began in 1984.
The DoH said HIV testing at government-run treatment hubs and clinics remains free, voluntary and confidential.
