By Danny Estacio
PLARIDEL, Quezon, Philippines –The Department of Health is targeting 90 percent to eliminate cervical cancer among girls aged 15 by the year 2030, following the conduct of a school-based immunization program in this town on October 20, 2026, at Plaridel Central School.
The town was chosen as the immunization site, the second town in Quezon after Sampaloc years back.
Five hundred girls aged 9 to 14 will be vaccinated.
The immunization covers Grades 1 and 7 for measles-rubella, tetanus-diphtheria, and Grade 4 girls for human papillomavirus against cervical cancer.
The SBI is a collaboration with the DOH, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Provincial Health Office, and the municipal government, in partnership with the Philippine Obstetrician and Gynecological Society, the Philippine Pediatric Society, Association of Health Officers of the Philippines, and supported by Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD).
This year’s objective is Tapusin Na Natin! Plaridel Milestone: Advancing Cervical Cancer Elimination Through School-Based Immunization.
Plaridel Mayor Jose Zaldy Saavedra said that the local government unit of Plaridel will expand the vaccination program with the Department of Health (DOH) to meet the 500-girl target by 100 percent by December 2026.
He added that this small town in the province is so lucky to be chosen for the said program and positively accepted it.
“Plaridel is a small town; it cannot afford to have all the children vaccinated.” This is a big deal for the small town, comprising nine villages, with limited funds, Saavedra stated.
He thanked the proponents and assured that the municipal government, with the municipal council, will support it.
Saavedra added that he is planning to expand and continue the program, and he intends to include the boys as part of it, and the LGU will allocate funds as far as it can.
On the part of the provincial hospital office, Dr. Lorelie Salonga, who represents Quezon Gov. Angelina Tan, announced that the Provincial Health Office will conduct a school-to-school vaccination in the province to support this year’s program with the rural health unit as a milestone, and showed a concrete example of how local leadership, provincial support, and collaboration among schools, health workers, and families can translate the global goal of cervical cancer elimination into meaningful community-level action.
She explained that the government’s 90-70-90 percent target against cervical cancer means: 90 percent will be vaccinated through an immunization program against cervical cancer by 2030 for those aged 15; 70 percent will be screened for individuals aged 30 to 55, and another 90 percent will be for those have cancer is to trace the disease and to provide them with prompt management, either surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
She believes that Plaridel will meet the target of 100 percent that started on October 15 and will continue until December 15, 2026, for girls aged 15, and it would be provided for free, Salonga added.
Salonga expressed thanks to the parents for giving consent for their children to be vaccinated.
During the last part of the event, the participating agencies posted symbolic handprints as their pledge of commitment.
Accordingly, cervical cancer is largely preventable through HPV vaccination, regular screening, and timely treatment. However, it remains a major public health concern in the Philippines.
Based on GLOBOCAN 2024 figures, the country records an estimated 7,829 new cervical cancer cases and 3,389 deaths, equivalent to approximately 21 women diagnosed and nine deaths daily.
