Bacolod City, Philippines — October 27–29, 2025.
The End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc. (CerviQ), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology – Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), proudly joins the Handa Pilipinas 2025: Visayas Leg, a national initiative highlighting science, technology, and innovation for disaster resilience and sustainable development.
This year’s event, themed “Padayon Visayas: STI for Resilient, United, and Sustainable Visayas,” gathers leaders, scientists, innovators, educators, and advocates from across the country to explore how science and technology can safeguard lives and communities.
CERV.AI: Philippine Innovation for Women’s Health
Representing the collaborative efforts of CerviQ and DOST-ASTI, Dr. Jesus Randy “Bogs” Rivera, Founder and President of End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc., will present CERV.AI — a groundbreaking project that marks a milestone in Philippine innovation and women’s health care.
CERV.AI stands as the first Artificial Intelligence system for cervical cancer screening developed in the Philippines. It aims to harness local research, digital imaging, and data science to enhance early detection and improve access to life-saving screening services for Filipino women.
Through the creation of the Philippine Cervical Image Bank, CERV.AI will train AI algorithms using thousands of labeled cervical images collected from communities nationwide. These images, captured through locally manufactured speculoscopes (CerviScope) and paired with High-Risk HPV DNA test results, will serve as the foundation for an AI-driven diagnostic support tool — built by Filipinos, for Filipinas.
The project embodies how science, technology, and compassion can converge to address one of the most preventable yet deadly diseases affecting women today.
Health, Resilience, and Local Innovation
While Handa Pilipinas traditionally focuses on disaster preparedness, this year’s inclusion of projects like CERV.AI underscores a broader definition of resilience — one that includes health resilience and community empowerment. By integrating artificial intelligence into public health systems, CerviQ and DOST-ASTI are paving the way for a future where advanced diagnostics reach even the most underserved barangays.
As Dr. Rivera puts it, “Disaster resilience is not only about responding to typhoons or earthquakes — it is also about preparing for and preventing health disasters that silently claim lives every day. Cervical cancer is one of them, and through CERV.AI, we hope to bring life-saving screening closer to every Filipino woman.”
About Handa Pilipinas 2025
Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Negros Island Region, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and supported by LGUs and regional stakeholders, Handa Pilipinas 2025 is a three-day national event showcasing the role of science and technology in disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM).
The conference features exhibits, lectures, and collaborations among innovators, policymakers, and researchers — including the participation of DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., who will deliver the keynote address.
CerviQ’s Vision
Through its participation in Handa Pilipinas 2025, CerviQ reinforces its advocacy of eliminating cervical cancer in the Philippines through awareness, vaccination, screening, and treatment — aligned with the World Health Organization’s 90-70-90 global targets.
By showcasing CERV.AI, CerviQ and DOST-ASTI highlight how Filipino ingenuity and science can create solutions not just for disaster preparedness, but also for disease prevention, women’s empowerment, and national health resilience.
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