HIV cases rise in W. Visayas as more people get tested

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

While Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cases in Western Visayas are rising, this could signal a positive development as more people are getting themselves tested, the Commission on Population and Development 6 (CPD-6) said.

CPD-6 reported that the region has recorded a total of 7,603 HIV cases since 1986. Cases began increasing notably in 2017 with 672 cases, and steadily rose to 1,130 cases in 2023, despite a temporary decline in 2020 to 623 cases. The annual figures were 748 in 2018, 795 in 2019, 954 in 2021, and 1,091 in 2022.

Among age groups, people aged 25 to 34 had the highest number of cases at 3,825, followed by those aged 15 to 24 at 2,197, and 35 to 49 at 22 cases.

“The increasing incidence of infection we recorded can be a good thing because people now are coming out and getting themselves tested. Not like before, because of the stigma, no one is coming out and it is difficult to manage,” said Harold Alfred Marshall, CPD-6 regional director.

Marshall added that advocacy efforts, along with support groups for people living with HIV and the opening of more testing hubs, have encouraged more individuals to undergo testing.

“I think that’s the main reason why the incidence is so high, because people are getting themselves tested,” he said.

Despite this, the CPD-6 director cautioned that the rising numbers could still be considered “alarming” as more people engage in unsafe and unprotected sexual activity.

“We should take a long, hard, serious look at how to really reverse, if we can reverse the trend on HIV. Looking through the years, before it was just low and slow, hidden but growing, so both fast and furious,” he said.

Marshall recalled that CPD-6 previously submitted a resolution to the Regional Development Council, which was later approved and led to the reactivation of local AIDS councils in various local government units.

He emphasized the need for broad advocacy: “Whatever society you belong to—your sexual orientation, gender identity, or ethnicity—we should all be advocates in preventing the spread of HIV and provide support to people living with HIV and AIDS.”

Marshall noted that the region, particularly Iloilo, has sufficient testing and treatment hubs. However, he stressed that all local government units should establish their own testing centers, as HIV is not geographically isolated.

CPD-6 data showed that Iloilo province has the highest number of recorded cases with 1,767, followed by Negros Occidental at 1,458, Iloilo City at 1,410, and Bacolod City at 1,075.