ORIENTAL MINDORO — According to the latest data from the Department of Health – CHD MIMAROPA for November 2025, Calapan City, Pinamalayan, and Naujan are the municipalities with the highest recorded HIV cases in Oriental Mindoro from 1999 to the present.

Calapan City leads with 206 cases, followed by Pinamalayan with 76, and Naujan with 68. In November 2025 alone, five new cases were reported in Calapan, two in Pinamalayan, and one in Naujan. Health authorities note that the majority of these cases involve young adults aged 25–34, and the municipalities with the highest cases also rank among the most populous in the province.

Despite being second in cases, Pinamalayan stands out for implementing an active HIV prevention program. Its Municipal Health Office offers Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication for HIV-negative individuals at high risk of exposure. Taken as prescribed, PrEP can reduce the risk of HIV transmission by up to 99% via sexual contact and at least 74% via injection drug use.

Access to PrEP requires consultation with a healthcare provider, confirming HIV-negative status, screening for Hepatitis B, and ensuring proper kidney function. In Oriental Mindoro, residents may seek services at the Purple Rain Clinic of the Provincial Hospital or the Municipal Health Office of Pinamalayan. Regular follow-up every three months ensures ongoing monitoring and testing.

Health officials emphasize that HIV is preventable and manageable through early testing, education, and addressing stigma. While prevention efforts like PrEP offer hope, the rising numbers indicate that education, access, and community engagement must keep pace with the spread of infection.

As HIV cases continue to rise in growing municipalities, can prevention programs like PrEP and community outreach effectively curb new infections — or is a broader, multi-sectoral approach needed? (Larawan mula sa: Bicol Consortium for Health Research and Development)