PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — More than 470 malaria service providers and health officials representing Puerto Princesa City and various towns in Palawan convened on Tuesday to receive important updates on the ongoing battle against the mosquito-borne infectious disease, with a collective aspiration to bring it to an end.

They were joined by municipal health officers and their respective delegates from 17 towns in attending the 14th Provincial Malaria Congress that took place on 28 November in Puerto Princesa City, provincial information office Atty. Christian Jay Cojamco said Wednesday.

Cojamco said that the congress is a component of the provincial government's initiatives to eliminate malaria, which, in turn, could contribute to the Philippines being officially declared entirely free from the infectious disease.

"The objective of the event is to gather all malaria warriors from the city and the province to provide them with additional knowledge and updates, especially regarding the current status of malaria in the region. It also aims to highlight the ongoing interventions necessary to achieve the ultimate goal of making Palawan completely malaria-free," he said.

The event, themed "Time to Deliver Zero Malaria: Invest, Innovate, Implement Formula "M" para sa Malaria: Makiisa, Makialam, Makipagtulungan, Makibahagi," was organized by the Provincial Health Office's (PHO) Kilusan Ligtas Malaria program under the leadership of Governor Dennis Socrates in collaboration with the Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc. (PSFI) and the Department of Health (DOH).

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Faye Erika Labrador emphasized during the event that their office is committed to ongoing activities and measures aimed at ultimately eliminating the disease and attaining zero malaria cases in Palawan.

She said that despite the province still recording malaria cases, it is in the final stage of its battle against the mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by parasites of the Plasmodium genus.

"We may still be having cases, and for this year, we have observed an increase in our cases, but we will not stop until malaria is eradicated in our province. By recognizing the existence of malaria and believing that we will illuminate our steps towards zero malaria in Palawan. We will not stop until we have eliminated malaria in the province," Labrador said.

On the other hand, Executive Assistant IV Ma. Elizabeth Sabando, who represented Governor Socrates, underscored that his leadership will persist in providing healthcare infrastructure, innovative strategies, community involvement, and coordinated endeavors as a means to achieve the goal of reducing and eliminating malaria cases in the province.

"Investment in malaria eradication stands as a testament to our commitment to the health and well-being of our people. It is an investment not only in healthcare infrastructure but also in the future of our communities, to ensure a healthier and more prosperous tomorrow," Sabando said, relating the governor's message.

She said the provincial government has always been committed to embracing innovative approaches and ideas to achieve the goal of reducing the incidents of malaria.

Through coordinated efforts, proactive initiatives, and community engagement, Palawan can translate aspirations into tangible actions on the ground.

"Our success lies not only in intentions but in the unwavering dedication of all our partner agencies to bring these intentions into actions," said Sabando.

In July, the DOH said that the Philippines is on track to achieve a malaria-free status within the next two to three years.

DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa claimed that the declaration is imminent since malaria cases have been effectively eradicated in all regions except for Palawan.

Herbosa explained that the majority of reported malaria cases are concentrated in the "high mountainous areas" of Palawan province. In 2022, Palawan officially recorded 3,157 cases of indigenous malaria.