First drive-through HIV testing hub in PH opens in Baguio

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'Drive in, park, and get tested discreetly.... No appointments needed, no judgment given'

BAGUIO, Philippines – Health officials launched on Friday, May 16, the country’s first drive-through human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing hub in Baguio City, in a bid to expand access to services and combat stigma surrounding the disease.

The new “Drive-Through, Park and Test” facility is located in the outdoor triage area of the Baguio Convention Center, previously used for COVID-19 response during the pandemic years.

The project is a partnership between DOH and the Baguio local government. It aims to make HIV-related services more accessible, especially to people who cannot visit clinics during office hours. 

FLAME OF REMEMBRANCE. Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong shares the ‘flame of remembrance’ during the observance of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial in the city on Friday, May 16, 2025. The global event is observed annually on the third Sunday of May. Mia Magdalena Fokno/Rappler

Open until 11 pm, the site will cater to students, workers, and residents seeking convenient and confidential testing, officials said.

“This will be the first time in the country that an HIV testing facility will operate through a drive-through model,” said Darwin Babon, Development Management Officer of the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH–CAR). “You can drive in, park, and get tested discreetly. We’ll also offer free condoms, lubricants, and pre-exposure prophylaxis. No appointments needed, no judgment given.”

The launch took place as Baguio observed the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, a global tribute to lives lost to HIV and AIDS, ahead of schedule. The candlelight memorial is observed annually, every third Sunday of May.

During the launch of the HIV testing hub, candles were lit as participants gathered beneath the morning light in a ceremony described by organizers as both solemn and hopeful.

“Behind every diagnosis is a human being who deserves respect, care, and hope,” Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong said. “This memorial isn’t just about the past – it’s about our resolve to fight stigma, prevent new infections, and make sure no one feels isolated or ashamed.”

Magalong noted that stigma remains a key obstacle in the fight against HIV. “It breeds fear and silence. It stops people from getting tested and treated. That’s what we must fight.”

Dr. Celia Brillantes, head of the Baguio City Health Services Office, said the facility is meant to be a safe and inclusive space. 

“This is about access and compassion,” she said. “People can come in without fear on their own terms, at their own pace.”

Babon, meanwhile, said the region has seen encouraging progress. “In the Cordillera, the truth that ‘undetectable equals untransmittable’ is changing lives. From despair to dignity, we’ve seen our communities rise,” he said. 

He noted that from just 17% viral suppression in 2022, the Cordillera region had reached 60% as of December 2024, driven by expanded access to antiretroviral therapy.

He shared stories about people living with HIV who have since become peer educators and advocates, stressing that these prove that treatment works and lives can go on despite HIV. – Rappler.com