Naga City Mayor and former Vice President Leni Robredo has pledged to scale up the local government’s anti-cervical cancer initiatives, citing dangerously low rates of early screening and human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization among local women.
Speaking before stakeholders at the city-led Cervical Cancer Elimination Summit, Robredo emphasized that public unawareness and healthcare gaps continue to exacerbate the disease’s impact on the community.
“Cervical cancer remains a significant health concern here in Naga City, especially in communities that lack awareness, understanding and access to healthcare opportunities,” Robredo said. “What’s painful is that it is 100 percent preventable. We can prevent cervical cancer through HPV vaccination and early screening.”
The Mayor disclosed that only 43% of young girls aged nine to 14 received their HPV vaccine doses in 2024—falling short of the 90% global threshold. The inoculation rate saw a further decline the following year.
“She said the figure even went down to 40% last year.”
Compounding the problem, Robredo revealed that less than two percent of eligible women in Naga City have sought cervical cancer screenings over the past few years.
Organized in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH) alongside various state and private stakeholders, the summit seeks to unify and fast-track localized efforts in HPV prevention and cancer management.
To reverse the trend, Robredo outlined a phased recovery timeline, targeting a major boost in youth vaccination coverage over the next twelve months before aligning with international benchmarks.
“Then we will aim within the next three years to reach 90%… We will come up with a schedule, yearly targets,” she said, noting that the city plans to raise the HPV vaccination rate among young women to at least 60-70% this year.