AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Philippines has called for stronger and more accurate media reporting on the country’s HIV response.
”Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a community. The media has tremendous power to shape public understanding of HIV. Accurate and stigma-free reporting can encourage people to seek testing, stay on treatment and access life-saving services,” AHF Philippines country program manager Ryan Guinaran said during the “Empowered Stories: Advancing Accurate, Ethical and Stigma-Free Reporting on HIV” event in Quezon City.
According to the second-quarter 2026 HIV and AIDS Surveillance of the Philippines report cited by AHF Philippines, an estimated 288,000 Filipinos are living with HIV. Of these, 159,997, or 56 percent, have been diagnosed and know their status.
The report recorded 111,154 people receiving antiretroviral therapy. It reported a 97-percent viral suppression rate among those tested and a 57-percent rate among all people on treatment.
From April to June 2026, the report recorded 2,994 new HIV cases, with an average of 33 new diagnoses daily.
People aged 25 to 34 accounted for 43 percent of newly diagnosed cases, while those aged 15 to 24 accounted for 31 percent. Men accounted for 96 percent of newly reported cases, according to the report.
AHF Philippines said misinformation and stigma remain barriers to HIV prevention and treatment. The organization cited fear-driven narratives, sensationalized reporting and outdated terminology as factors that can discourage people from accessing HIV services and contribute to discrimination against people living with HIV.
”Media professionals are not merely observers of the HIV response. They are partners in public health,” Guinaran said.
”Through responsible reporting, journalists can help normalize HIV testing, combat misinformation, reduce stigma and connect communities to services,” he added.
The second-quarter surveillance report recorded 9,640 new enrollments in pre-exposure prophylaxis from April to June 2026, a 10-percent increase from the previous quarter.
The report also recorded more than 107,000 individuals enrolled in the program nationwide since its implementation in 2021. Most new enrollees were aged 18 to 34.
AHF Philippines launched the AHF Media Awards during the Oct. 22 gathering to recognize journalists, media organizations and content creators producing accurate, ethical, and impactful stories on HIV and public health.
AHF Philippines emphasized cooperation among government agencies, health care providers, civil society organizations, communities and media institutions in providing accurate information and HIV services. According to the surveillance data cited by the organization, the country’s figures for the global 95-95-95 HIV targets stand at 56-69-57.
