Where to Get Free—or Accessible—HPV Vaccines and HIV Tests
From city clinics to private labs, here’s where to get HPV vaccines and HIV tests in the country, and why normalizing checkups matters more than ever.
In a country where reproductive and sexual health still carries more taboo than open conversation, access to screenings like HIV testing or vaccines for HPV vaccine can feel quietly urgent—and quietly complicated.
The numbers are stark: In the Philippines, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipinas, with 12 recorded deaths per day.
On the HIV front, as of June 2025, the World Health Organization reported an average of 57 new HIV diagnoses daily, with an estimated 252,800 Filipinos living with HIV. The numbers continue to climb: 5,101 new cases were recorded in the first quarter of this year alone, a sharp increase from the 3,409 cases logged during the same period last year.
But prevention, detection, and treatment don’t have to be out of reach. Here’s a guide to some of the best places to get checked, whether you’re doing it for yourself or finally convincing that one friend who keeps putting it off:
1. Quezon City Local Government: free HPV vaccine for city residents
Quezon City remains one of the few local governments actively rolling out free HPV services to its residents. In 2024, the city passed the country’s first integrated cancer control ordinance, establishing a comprehensive approach to screening, prevention, and care.
High-performance human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing is now offered for free to female Quezon City residents through select Southstar Drug outlets and the Quezon City Health Department’s partner Women Workers for Health Empowerment (WHEN). A pharmacist assists clients in using the kit onsite or at home. Once collected, samples are processed by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).
If a test comes back positive, patients are referred for thermal ablation at either Batasan Lying-in Clinic or Old Balara Health Center. If further evaluation is needed, they are referred to partner hospitals for additional care. Last year alone, the city screened nearly 17,000 women for cervical cancer and over 67,000 for breast cancer—numbers that signal both the scale of the problem and the city’s effort to meet it. For eligible individuals, this service is entirely free and potentially lifesaving.
2. Department of Health: free HPV Vaccine for elementary students
The Department of Health continues to offer free HPV vaccinations for girls aged 9 to 14 as part of its school-based immunization program. While this only covers a specific age group, it remains one of the country’s more consistent attempts at early prevention. Parents and guardians can coordinate with public schools or local health offices to ensure their children receive the vaccine.
3. LoveYourself: free HIV testing
If there’s one organization that has quietly revolutionized HIV testing in the country, it’s LoveYourself. With multiple branches across the country, the group offers free, confidential HIV testing and counseling. The clinics have worked hard to build a space that feels radically different from the anxiety-filled clinical settings many expect: friendly volunteers, judgment-free staff, and an atmosphere that encourages honesty without fear. Booking an appointment is as simple as visiting their website.
4. Pulse Clinic: accessible HIV testing
Pulse Clinic doesn’t offer free services, but it does aim to make HIV testing more financially accessible. With modern, private clinics in Makati City, Pulse Clinic caters to those looking for a discreet, quick, and comprehensive check-up. Their emphasis on “not breaking the bank” reflects the middle ground they occupy for people who want to skip long queues without paying exorbitant private hospital rates.
5. Hi-Precision Diagnostics: accessible HPV genotyping test
For those who age out of public HPV vaccine programs, Hi-Precision Diagnostics offers HPV genotyping tests at out-of-pocket rates. It’s a reliable option for those seeking private screening to assess their risk for HPV-related conditions, especially for individuals without full insurance coverage.
Getting checked (and talking about it) matters
Testing is rarely just a medical decision, it’s an emotional one. In a culture where shame and silence still hang over sexual health, simply booking an appointment can feel like an act of defiance. But the truth is: viruses don’t discriminate, and neither should we. Getting checked normalizes responsibility over fear. And sometimes, the best thing we can do is be the friend that tags along. Not because they need us, but because we all need each other to make these conversations less terrifying and more ordinary. The more we show up for ourselves and each other, the faster we turn testing from a secret into a standard.
