The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is backing health experts’ call to expand the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program in a bid to significantly reduce cervical cancer cases in the Philippines.
Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman welcomed the idea of the Department of Health to expand its immunization program for women and girls against the HPV.
It should be noted that more than 95 percent of cervical cancers are 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.
This year, a total of P537 million has been allocated for the HPV vaccination program under the 2024 General Appropriations Act.
“We are in the midst of preparing our proposed national budget for 2025. So, we will look into that,” Pangandaman said.
Earlier, Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said he will propose a higher budget for HPV vaccination to cover girls at their pre-puberty stage, regardless of their income class in the society.
Before they become sexually active, it is crucial for girls aged nine to 14 to receive HPV immunization, he said.
Data showed that only 17 percent of girls below 15 are covered with the DOH’s free HPV vaccination. This is equivalent to 2.7 million girls out of the total 16 million.
Statistics revealed that cervical cancer is the second most frequent cancer among Filipinas with roughly 8,000 diagnoses and 12 deaths everyday.
Worse, almost 40 million Filipinos are at risk of developing the disease.