Bacolod City intensified its HIV awareness campaign in Barangay Handumanan on Friday, July 18, as health officials revealed a concerning surge in infection rates across Negros Island.
The City Health Office (CHO) reported 16 new HIV cases in Bacolod from January to February 2025 alone. This figure accounts for 38 percent of the 42 infections recorded across Negros Occidental and its neighboring provinces during the same period.
These statistics underscore the critical need for the city’s expanded prevention strategy, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Office said.
Executive Assistant Jonathan Diaz, who led the community symposium, outlined the city’s comprehensive plan of action that includes:
• District-level education targeting all barangays, educational institutions, and community groups.
• Expanded testing capabilities supported by an annual P500,000 prevention fund.
• Development of a dedicated healthcare hub for treatment and counseling services.
Diaz emphasized Bacolod government’s commitment to destigmatizing HIV care while implementing data-driven interventions.
Following the symposium, Barangay Handumanan officials, led by Captain Febe Legaspi, pledged to replicate the pilot program’s outreach model by mobilizing health workers and youth advocates.*