The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has thrown its support behind the call from health experts to expand the immunization program against the human papillomavirus (HPV) in a bid to reduce cervical cancer cases in the Philippines.
In a statement on Wednesday, May 1, Budget Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman said she is supporting the Department of Health's (DOH) proposal to widen the HPV immunization program for women and girls, noting the critical role it plays in combating cervical cancer, which is predominantly caused by HPV infections.
“As a woman, I deeply understand how important it is to get protected against diseases like cervical cancer, which is a common threat among women,” Pangandaman said.
“Our fellow Filipinas can be assured that we are supportive of the need to have an additional HPV immunization budget,” she added.
Pangandaman said that P537 million had been allocated for the HPV vaccination program in the 2024 General Appropriations Act, with plans to consider the additional budget in the 2025 national budget.
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa earlier vowed to push for a higher budget for HPV vaccination to ensure that girls aged nine to 14 receive immunization before reaching puberty, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.
Recent data indicated that only 17 percent of girls under 15 years old have benefited from the DOH’s free HPV vaccination program, translating to just 2.7 million girls out of a total of 16 million eligible individuals.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino women, with an estimated 8,000 new cases and 12 fatalities reported daily.
Furthermore, the data revealed that nearly 40 million Filipinos are at risk of developing this life-threatening disease.