Manila, Dec. 10 -- Malacanang said Wednesday that the Department of Health (DOH) is expanding its HIV/AIDS testing and prevention efforts as the number of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in the Philippines continues to rise.

In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the DOH is acting based on updated global estimates from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

To respond to the growing cases, Castro said the DOH is expanding access to testing nationwide.

"Nakausap po mismo natin ang pamunuan ng DOH at sinasabi nila na based sa UNAIDS 2024 global HIV data, may estimate na population po tayo na 217,700 people living with HIV at may 30,800 annual new cases (We spoke directly with the DOH leadership, and ...