Jea Nicole Jacot

The Department of Health's (DOH) Philippine National AIDS Council (PNAC) plans to make condoms accessible in key Metro Manila establishments as the country faces an alarming rise in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cases.

Photo Courtesy of Gabrielle Emanuel/NPR.

Free condom distribution will be prioritized in red district areas, including bars, bathhouses, spas, and motels.

They will also hand out supplies in workplace bathrooms, gas stations, tricycle terminals, and health centers. 

“Our plan is ready […] We are still seeking the help of local government units in identifying other possible areas where to supply said items,” said PNAC executive director Joselito Feliciano in an interview with The Philippine Star.

He added that the original plan was for DOH to provide free condoms, but the PNAC urged local governments to “co-share”.

They are also seeking collaborations with the private sector to take part in the initiative by providing complimentary condoms.
 
However, he stressed that the distribution of free condoms will not happen in schools.

“What we are doing is giving people the option to decide for themselves. We will give them access and then, they decide,” Feliciano clarified.

Surging cases among youth 

In June 2025, the DOH proposed declaring the surge in HIV cases a national public health emergency after reporting a 500 percent increase of cases among individuals aged 15 to 25 years old between 2010 and 2023.

The number of recorded cases in the first quarter of 2025 reached around 5,101, which was 50 percent higher than the 3,409 cases in the same period in 2024. 

Meanwhile, the daily average of new HIV cases surged to 57, an increase from the 37 logged during the same period last year. 

A 13-year-old in Palawan was identified as the youngest patient to contract the virus through unprotected sexual contact. 

Data from the DOH shows that sexual contact remains the leading cause of HIV transmission, with a notable increase in cases among males who have sex with males (MSM) since 2007.