SANTO TOMAS, BATANGAS – In the fight against cervical cancer, innovation is no longer optional—it is essential. And in the province of Batangas, the City of Santo Tomas is proving that local government units (LGUs) can lead the charge by embracing technology, strengthening community programs, and empowering women at the grassroots level.
A City Guided by Vision and Leadership
At the heart of this movement is Dr. Arnielynn Marasigan-Aguirre, Executive Adviser IV, and Consultant to the Health Education and Promotion Unit (HEPU), City of Santo Tomas, whose guidance has helped shape a forward-thinking cervical cancer prevention program in the city.
This year marks a renewed commitment as Santo Tomas resumes its barangay-to-barangay cervical health education and screening program—a critical step in reaching women where they are and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Bringing Screening Closer to the Community
The story unfolds in Barangay San Fernando, Santo Tomas, Batangas, where the HEPU team recently rolled out one of its early screening initiatives.
But this was more than just a routine screening day.
It was a practice ground for transformation.
As the city prepares for full-scale implementation in May, the team began integrating a digital workflow powered by Care Connect, allowing:
Patient registration through structured digital systems
Real-time scheduling and queuing
Image capture and secure upload
Remote or onsite doctor evaluation
Faster turnaround of results
For the healthcare workers on the ground, this meant learning, adapting, and embracing a new way of delivering care—one that is faster, smarter, and more connected.
The Power of Speculoscope-Assisted VIA
Santo Tomas stands among a select group of LGUs—including Cuenca and Marikina—that are already using speculoscope-assisted Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), a technology developed in collaboration with DOST-ASTI and CerviQ – End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization Inc.
This approach enhances traditional VIA by introducing magnification, illumination, and digital documentation, resulting in:
Improved visualization of cervical lesions
Better accuracy in identifying suspicious findings
Image capture for documentation and follow-up comparison
Remote expert evaluation through telemedicine platforms
Increased confidence among healthcare providers
More importantly, it transforms screening into a connected system, where data, images, and decisions flow seamlessly—bridging the gap between barangay-level services and specialist care.
Soon, this innovation will also be adopted by a hospital in Benguet and by Health Screen Laboratory and Diagnostic Center, further expanding its reach across the country.
From Screening to Treatment: Closing the Loop
One of the most critical gaps in cervical cancer programs is not screening—but what happens after a positive result.
Santo Tomas is addressing this head-on.
Through a developing partnership with Sierra Health Diagnostic and Multi-Specialty Clinic, the city is preparing to offer thermal ablation treatment for VIA-positive patients.
This means:
Women can receive immediate or timely treatment
Reduced loss to follow-up
A complete screen-and-treat approach at the local level
By integrating screening with treatment, Santo Tomas is building a continuum of care—a key requirement in achieving cervical cancer elimination.
Fueling this entire initiative is the city’s broader program:
“Aksyon Bilis: Girl Power Laban Contra Kanser”
More than a slogan, it is a movement.
It combines:
HPV vaccination for long-term prevention
Cervical screening for early detection
Health education to break stigma and misinformation
Community engagement to empower women
Behind every screening table, every counseling session, and every vaccinated individual is a shared goal:
To protect lives before cancer even begins.
A Model for Other LGUs
Santo Tomas is showing that with the right leadership, partnerships, and technology, cervical cancer elimination is not just a vision—it is achievable.
From barangay halls to diagnostic clinics, from education to treatment, the city is building a replicable model for other LGUs across the Philippines.
And in Barangay San Fernando, where this journey continues to unfold, one thing is clear:
The fight against cervical cancer is no longer happening in the future.
It is happening now—one woman, one screening, one community at a time.
