Baguio HIV cases rise to 800

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Health officials are raising concern over the rising number of HIV-AIDS cases in Baguio City and the Cordillera region, saying that the Philippines now has the fastest-growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific region.

Officials from the Department of Health-Cordillera and the City Health Services Office said Baguio has recorded 800 HIV-AIDS cases, the highest in the region and accounting for 56.3% of total cases in the Cordillera.

Data showed HIV cases in Baguio have continued to rise in recent years, with 70 new cases recorded in 2021, 86 in 2022, 63 in 2023, 80 in 2024, and 87 in 2025. A total of 39 deaths have been recorded since monitoring began in 1984.

National data from UNAIDS showed that the country averages 55 new HIV cases daily. Most cases involve males, while the 25- to 34-year-old age group accounts for the largest number of infections.

Dr. Clement Bilalat of the City Health Services Office (CHSO) said an estimated 1,300 HIV cases may already exist in the Cordillera, with around 500 individuals still undiagnosed or unaccounted for.

Health officials said they are strengthening awareness campaigns, HIV testing, treatment programs, condom-use advocacy, and other prevention efforts to help stop the spread of the disease.