Taguig City has been awarded the Galing Pook Award for its breast cancer control program, dubbed ‘Ating Dibdibin.’
Out of 147 entries from 111 local governments, Taguig was selected as one of the 18 finalists and emerged as one of the 10 winners.
The Ating Dibdibin program, established in 2012 in partnership with the ICanServe Foundation, is a community-based initiative focused on the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.
This program has been institutionalized through local ordinances and employs a patient navigation system, which has become a model for other local government units.
Trained barangay health workers serve as patient navigators, providing guided support throughout the healthcare continuum, including free diagnostic services, treatment, and psycho-social support.
The program has achieved remarkable milestones, such as increasing Taguig’s breast cancer screening rate to 8.48%, nearly quadrupling the national average of 2.3%, and reducing breast cancer mortality to 17%.
“We believe every breast cancer patient deserves a second chance at life. Every home deserves a happy, healthy mother, sister, or daughter. We continue to intensify our efforts to keep families together. Ating Dibdibin ang laban sa breast cancer,” said Mayor Laarni Cayetano.
Taguig’s success was evaluated based on several criteria, including positive results, people’s participation, innovation, and sustainability.
Mayor Cayetano stated that her administration remains committed to providing the best healthcare possible, with plans to open a larger breast cancer center and upgrade existing equipment.
The Galing Pook Awards, launched in 1993, promote innovation and excellence in local governance by incentivizing innovation and community participation in local government initiatives.
