The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) has raised the alarm over the rising cases of HIV infections and adolescent pregnancies in the Philippines, calling for immediate, comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education nationwide.
In a statement issued last week, the CPD said it supports the Department of Health’s call to address these critical and overlapping public health concerns that highlight systemic gaps in access to accurate information about safe sex, HIV prevention, and contraceptive use.
“Young Filipinos still lack accurate information,” the CPD stressed, citing a troubling spike in both HIV cases and early pregnancies—particularly among minors.
CPD Executive Director Undersecretary Lisa Grace Bersales warned that without immediate intervention, the well-being of the Filipino youth would remain at risk. “We call on educators, institutions, local governments, and especially families and parents to work with us in protecting the future of our youth,” she said.
From January to March this year, an average of 56 new HIV cases per day were recorded—reflecting a 500% increase in infections among those aged 15 to 24. The youngest case was a 12-year-old from Palawan. Since 2007, the predominant mode of HIV transmission has been through males having sex with males (MSM).
Adolescent pregnancies also remain a pressing concern. Live births among girls aged 10 to 14 jumped from 2,411 in 2019 to 3,343 in 2023, underlining the vulnerability of minors to early and often risky sexual activity.
The CPD pointed to the 2021 Young Adult Fertility and Sexuality Study (YAFS5), which confirmed that many young Filipinos receive little to no reliable sex education—frequently depending on inaccurate information from social media.
Further, the 2022 Integrated HIV and Behavioral and Serologic Surveillance (IHBSS) Report revealed that only 36% of MSM respondents answered basic HIV questions correctly. Misconceptions remain rampant, with 45% believing that withdrawal before ejaculation reduces HIV risk. Only 56% of MSM and 64% of transgender women were aware of available HIV treatment.
To counter this alarming trend, the CPD is strengthening programs under the Philippine Population and Development Plan of Action (2023–2028) and the Comprehensive Action Plan for the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy (2025–2028).
The agency also called for the urgent passage of a national policy on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention, full enforcement of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, and more parental involvement in educating young people about reproductive health.
“Investing in the protection and potential of every Filipino youth is key to building stronger families, healthier communities, and a better nation,” Bersales emphasized.