MANILA, Philippines — Alarmed by a possible resurgence of polio, the Rotary International (RI) chapters of Japan and the Philippines have partnered to combat the debilitating disease that could make a comeback because of low vaccination.

Targeting depressed areas in Pasay in Metro Manila and Tacloban City in Leyte province, the health initiative is also in collaboration with the Western Regional Pacific office of the World Health Organization, the Department of Health and the local government units.

It is spearheaded by the RI district 2650 of Japan and RI district 3810 of the Philippines, both of which have been involved in disease prevention activities with the WHO.

At the contract signing for the immunization grant, WHO representative to the Philippines Dr. Soe Nyunt-U said the Rotary intervention is “quite timely” following a recent outbreak of suspected polio cases in Pasay in 2009 and 2010.

“All children must be immunized to prevent any outbreak,” the WHO official said, adding that tuberculosis and dengue also pose a clear and present danger to children.

RI district 2650 representative Shigekazu Miyazaki said initially, the target project areas are Pasay City and Tacloban City, with plans for vaccinations all over the country.

The project has an estimated cost of $143,000.

District Governor Ernesto Choa of RI district 3810 expressed alarm that regular vaccination rate had fallen below 60 percent because of insufficient regular public health service for poor communities in the Philippines.

“This situation should be reversed at the soonest time possible,” said Choa.

The WHO official encouraged Rotarians in Japan and the Philippines to join in the effort and collaborate with the Aquino government in support of the immunization law recently signed by the President.

He was referring to RA 10152 which seeks the mandatory basic immunization of infants and children below five years old from vaccine-preventable diseases, like polio, measles and Hepatitis B.