ILOILO City – Confronted with persistent gaps in childhood immunization despite adequate vaccine supply and health workers, the Iloilo City Government has partnered with a charity organization to harness a behavior-based strategy aimed at improving vaccine completion rates, particularly for HPV, the city’s lowest-covered pediatric vaccine.
Mayor Raisa Treñas and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) officials formalized the partnership on December 11 through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the “Back to Bakuna” project, which applies behavioral science to address why families miss or fail to complete routine immunization schedules.
Treñas signed the agreement with City Health Officer Dr. Mary Ann Poli-Diaz, RMHC executive director Maricar Angeles, and RMHC assistant manager Christian Jay Tandoy.
“Vaccines are important for our children. One of the challenges we face is that some of them are unable to complete their schedules,” Treñas said. “Through this partnership, we hope to increase the percentage of vaccinated children.”
She pointed out that HPV vaccination remains a major concern for the city.
“We’re trying to improve vaccination rates, especially for HPV, so we can better protect children and women,” Treñas added.
City health officials said the initiative goes beyond logistics, focusing on everyday barriers that hinder follow-through, such as scheduling difficulties, missed appointments, and limited or unclear information — problems that persist even when vaccines and personnel are available.
Under the MOA, “Back to Bakuna” will roll out targeted behavioral interventions, improved communication strategies, and community engagement activities designed to encourage parents and guardians to complete their children’s immunization schedules.
The Iloilo City Health Office will spearhead on-the-ground implementation, while RMHC will support the program through its national health platforms and partnership framework.
The project is set to pilot in selected barangays in 2026, with city officials hoping the approach will translate into sustained gains in child vaccination coverage./PN
