MANDAUE CITY, Cebu — Mandaue City is stepping up its fight against cervical cancer by expanding free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to eligible girls in private schools, complementing the Department of Health’s (DOH) National Immunization Program (NIP) to reach more children.
Building on commitments made during the 2025 Cebu Cervical Cancer Elimination Summit, the city is strengthening school-based immunization through additional vaccine procurement, partnerships with educational institutions, and local government support.
At the media forum titled “From Commitment to Action: Mandaue City Strengthens Its Push for Cervical Cancer Elimination,” local officials and healthcare experts discussed how these initiatives contribute to the World Health Organization’s target of vaccinating 90% of girls against HPV by age 15.
Expanding HPV Vaccination Beyond Public Schools
Mandaue City has allocated Php 2 million for additional HPV vaccines to supplement DOH-provided supplies and extend vaccination services to eligible girls outside the public school system.
Dr. Debra Maria C. Catulong, City Health Officer II, said the city has initiated coordination with private educational institutions, including exploratory meetings with five schools that expressed interest in participating.
“Our goal is to reach more children every year, including those in private schools and those who may have missed vaccination opportunities. We want to ensure that more eligible girls can benefit from this protection,” Catulong said.
The program prioritizes girls aged 9 to 14, particularly Grade 4 learners and eligible Grade 5 students who previously missed vaccination. Out-of-school children are also among those the city intends to reach.
Dr. Mix Alegado, NIP Program Medical Coordinator, explained that daily monitoring and coordination with schools help identify vaccination requirements and facilitate requests for additional supplies from the DOH.
“Through daily reporting and coordination with schools, we can identify where additional vaccines are needed. The combination of DOH allocations and local government procurement helps us reach more eligible learners,” Alegado said.
Mandaue City Open to Gender-Neutral HPV Vaccination
Mandaue City has also expressed openness to eventually including boys in its HPV vaccination efforts, recognizing that the virus affects both males and females.
City Councilor Raul Kevin F. Cabahug V said the local government is willing to consider allocating additional resources should national guidelines and vaccine availability support broader implementation.
“If the guidelines and resources become available, we are very much willing to allocate a budget for boys as well. Our goal is to ensure that no one is left behind,” Cabahug said.
Dr. Cyrus Cesar R. Tejam of the Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines explained that HPV can cause cancers beyond cervical cancer, including certain anal, genital, and throat cancers that affect males and females.
“HPV does not choose gender. Vaccination is an early investment in protection, and giving it before possible exposure to the virus provides the greatest preventive benefit,” Tejam explained.
For now, the government-funded immunization program continues to prioritize eligible girls aged 9 to 14, consistent with existing DOH guidelines and available resources.
Sustaining Local Action Against Cervical Cancer
Beyond vaccination, Mandaue City is strengthening its cancer prevention and care services, including screening, HPV DNA testing, and patient assistance through its cancer navigation clinic.
Cabahug emphasized that institutionalizing these programs through local policies and dedicated funding is essential to ensuring their continuity beyond changes in administration.
“Our commitment is to make these programs sustainable. We want to ensure that cervical cancer prevention is not just a one-time initiative but a continuing service that protects future generations,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jane Michelle E. Raagas, DOH Development Management Officer IV for Mandaue City, underscored the importance of addressing vaccine misinformation, which remains a challenge to improving immunization coverage.
“Prevention begins with health literacy. We need to intensify information dissemination so that families understand the benefits of vaccination and eligible children receive the protection they need,” Raagas said.
With school-based immunization activities underway from November to December, parents are encouraged to coordinate with their children’s schools or local health centers regarding eligibility, schedules, and consent requirements.
Through its combination of national immunization support, local investment, and community partnerships, Mandaue City is demonstrating how local governments can translate cervical cancer elimination commitments into concrete action.
Its approach offers a potential model for other cities and municipalities across Cebu and Central Visayas seeking to strengthen HPV prevention and advance the country’s cervical cancer elimination goals.
