By Gabriel Kim Leal
(February 14, 2025) – Insufficient sexual education is driving the surge of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among Filipino youth, a health group said on Friday.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Philippines, a non-profit organization, called for the urgent implementation of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), calling it a “human rights discussion,” to combat the stigma and prevent the spread of HIV.
“Napag-uusapan dapat dito ang sexually transmitted infections tulad ng HIV. Kapag ‘di natin sila napag-uusapan sa school, mas tumataas ‘yung stigma,” said Arthur Masliyan, advocacy and marketing officer of AHF Philippines on One PH’s One Balita Pilipinas, noting that most HIV cases in the country involve men.
The push for Senate Bill No. 1979 or the Prevention of Adolescent Pregnancy Act has become controversial due to the provisions for CSE, which includes discussions on HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.
Critics of the proposal claim that CSE could expose young students to inappropriate topics, such as masturbation and early sexual rights, among others.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros, the author of the bill, dismissed them as baseless “fabrications.” She filed a revised version after Pres. Bongbong Marcos Jr. expressed his dissatisfaction.
Masliyan maintained that CSE is necessary to encourage early testing and other efforts to prevent HIV.
“Isa kasing way para mas mapapababa natin ang stigma at discrimination ay education sa mga tao on the ground,” added Masliyan. “May fear of HIV dahil hindi nila alam na hindi ito nakamamatay.”
In 2023, the Philippines tallied a daily average of 46 HIV cases, according to a study published in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. The same year recorded 834 deaths among individuals diagnosed with HIV.
The Philippine National AIDS Council has projected the number of people with HIV in the country could rise by 200%, from 158,400 in 2022 to 364,000 by 2030.
(PM)
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