As the Philippines continues to face a growing HIV epidemic among young people, youth leaders, local governments, and development partners gathered in Pasig City to mark World AIDS Day 2025 with the launch of Hakdaw Kabataan 2.0, a renewed initiative that places young people and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) councils at the center of local HIV responses in select cities in the National Capital Region (NCR). The event, held at Marco Polo Ortigas, was organized by the HIV & AIDS Support House (HASH), UNAIDS Philippines, and the National Youth Commission (NYC), with support from the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Anchored on the global theme "Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response," the launch highlighted how youth leadership can drive sustained, localized action amid funding challenges, service disruptions, and persistent HIV-related stigma.

From community work to governance reform
Opening the program, Undersecretary Joseph Francisco "Jeff" R. Ortega, Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Commission, underscored the urgency of addressing HIV among young Filipinos and affirmed NYC's commitment to supporting youth-led initiatives.
Usec. Jo Chairper "Behind every statistic is a young Filipino navigating fear, discrimination, misinformation, and barriers to care," Ortega said. "This is why the HIV and AIDS response should never be separated from youth development, local
governance, and social inclusion."

Delivering a message on behalf of HASH, Atty. Lee Edson Yarcia, MD, emphasized that the current HIV response must evolve amid global funding disruptions and widening social inequities. "Young people aged 15 to 24 remain disproportionately affected by HIV in the Philippines," Yarcia said. "This demands a response that is people-centered, rights-based, and led by the very communities most affected."

The Hakdaw Kabataan journey
Patrick Lopez, Project Officer of Hakdaw Kabataan, traced the initiatives roots to community-based HIV hotspot mobilization project conducted in Quezon City from April to September 2023, supported by ACHIEVE, and the Australian Government and implemented in close coordination with select Sangguniang Kabataan Councils and the City Epidemiology and Surveillance Division (CESD) of the Quezon City Health Department.

While youth leaders showed strong willingness to act, HASH and its partners noted that many lacked the systems and institutional support needed to sustain
their efforts. This realization led to the intentional ideation of Hakdaw Kabataan in February 2024—not as a one-time project, but as a competency-based, youth-led governance and health leadership framework. "Hakdaw Kabataan was created to move from activities to systems, from participation to leadership, and from projects to institutionalization," Lopez said.

Results that underscore youth leadership
During its pilot phase, Hakdaw Kabataan 1, implemented in Quezon City, focused on capacity-building, mentoring, community-based HIV screening, youth-led social media campaigns, and resource mobilization workshops for SK councils. The initiative contributed to a significant increase in youth-led investments in HIV programs-from 26 barangays in 2023 to 123 barangays in 2024, representing a 614.65 percent increase in HIV-related SK budget allocation.

On the health side, Hakdaw Kabataan-supported activities facilitated HIV testing for 1,940 individuals, with 74.3 percent aged 15 to 30, and ensured that 46 individuals who tested reactive were successfully linked to care.

"When youth lead, youth are reached—effectively and ethically," Lopez said.

Deputy Ambassador Nicholas Kay of the Australian Embassy in the Philippines were also present and delivered a message of support, reaffirming Australia's commitment to addressing HIV in the region through youth-led and community-based approaches. He highlighted the Philippines' rapidly growing HIV epidemic among young people and underscored the importance of youth leadership in sustaining the HIV response amid global funding challenges.

"The voices, leadership, and ideas of young people are not optional—they are essential," Kay said

Kay emphasized that Australia, through its Indo-Pacific HIV Partnership, continues to support initiatives that strengthen community-led responses, expand access to HIV services for young key populations, and build resilient local health systems.

Art, policy, and commitment converge
Adding a powerful human dimension to the program, Sik-Lab Dance Theater delivered a contemporary theatrical performance that explored HIV-related stigma, discrimination, and resilience. Through movement and storytelling, the performance reflected the lived realities of people affected by HIV and reinforced calls for empathy, dignity, and inclusion in the national response.

The program also featured the ceremonial unveiling of the Hakdaw Kabataan Guidebook, a practical resource designed to help SK councils translate national policies—including the SK Operations Manual, the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, and the SK Reform Act-into actionable local programs integrated into Annual Barangay Youth Investment Plans (ABYIP), Comprehensive Barangay Youth Development Plan (CBYDP), and Local Youth Development Plans (LYDP). Ceremonial Unveiling of the Hakdaw Kabataan Guidebook

Youth-led commitments moving forward
The launch culminated in a commitment-signing ceremony led by Undersecretary Ortega, together with representatives of the SK Federations of Caloocan, Manila, and Navotas, formally signaling their support for the rollout of Hakdaw Kabataan 2.0 in their respective cities.

Councilor Juliana "Yanyan" Rae M. Ibay, SK Federation President of the City of Manila, emphasized in her message of commitment that the HIV epidemic affects real people and communities—not just statistics.

"HIV has a face-it is a student, a young worker, a child, a family living in fear," Ibay said. "Young people are not just asking for promises; they are demanding real commitments
and life-saving action."

In his closing message, Dr. Louie Country Director of UNAIDS Philippines, highlighted the importance of sustained collaboration among government agencies, local health units, and
youth organizations to ensure that youth-led initiatives translate into lasting impact.

As Hakdaw Kabataan 2.0 moves forward, partners expressed hope that the initiative will be scaled and institutionalized nationwide, enabling Sangguniang Kabataan councils across the country to systematically integrate HIV and adolescent health programs into local youth development plans. Through continued leadership of the National Youth Commission and coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Hakdaw Kabataan is envisioned to evolve into a national framework supporting youth-led, evidence-based HIV responses at the barangay and city levels.