As the Philippines continues to intensify its efforts to eliminate cervical cancer, local government units (LGUs) are playing an essential role in ensuring that HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment programs reach communities across the country.
During the Together for Health: The Progress Made and What More Needs to Be Done for Cervical Cancer Elimination forum—held in alignment with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action—key stakeholders discussed the critical role of LGUs in realizing global cervical cancer elimination goals.
The WHO has set out a clear roadmap to eliminate cervical cancer, targeting a 90–70–90 approach by 2030. Local government units are critical to achieving these targets by integrating these goals into community health programs. Local leaders have emphasized the importance of tailored strategies to reach underserved areas and improve access to services.
Hon. Arth Jhun Marasigan, Mayor of Sto. Tomas, Batangas, shared his municipality’s focus on improving access to vaccination in rural communities. “Our strategy is to bring vaccination services closer to our constituents, working closely with barangay health workers to identify and engage eligible individuals,” said Marasigan.
Similarly, Hon. Gelo Devanadera, Mayor of Sampaloc, Quezon, shared the success of his municipality in achieving a 100% HPV vaccination rate despite financial constraints. “We focus on reaching every household through consistent engagement, leveraging community partnerships to maximize the available resources,” Devanadera emphasized.
The forum also highlighted the need for continued collaboration between LGUs, national agencies like the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Education (DepEd) to ensure the success of vaccination and screening programs. Partnerships with LGUs help increase the reach and impact of initiatives like Bakuna Eskwela, a school-based immunization program aimed at boosting HPV vaccination rates.
Hon. Natasha Co, Representative of the BHW Partylist, highlighted the importance of local government engagement in these programs, noting, “The role of local governments is critical to the success of national health programs. We need to strengthen collaborations to reach underserved communities and ensure women and girls are protected.”
Hon. Co emphasized the need for education as a tool to counter vaccine hesitancy, stating that awareness campaigns must reach beyond urban areas.
With the active involvement of LGUs, the Philippines is making progress toward achieving the WHO’s cervical cancer elimination targets. However, continued collaboration, sufficient funding, and ongoing education are essential to the success of these programs. Local governments have the unique ability to engage their communities directly and create sustainable, impactful health initiatives that will protect future generations of women from cervical cancer.
