(Photo from Taguig PIO)
The recognition ceremony for Taguig City was held at the Samsung Hall in SM Aura Premier, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, on October 24, 2024.
Out of 147 programs submitted by 111 local governments, Taguig was selected as one of 18 finalists, and eventually emerged as one of the 10 winners of the Galing Pook Award 2024.
"Ating Dibdibin" is a project of the city government of Taguig in partnership with the ICanServe Foundation.
The city government and the private foundation work hand in hand to ensure that women in Taguig are screened early for breast cancer and receive treatment if needed.
Local ordinances related to the breast cancer program are in place, and a patient navigation system is also implemented to monitor their check-ups and treatments, which has become a model for other local governments.
Barangay health workers who underwent training serve as patient navigators, ensuring that breast cancer patients in Taguig have access to free diagnostic services, treatment, and psycho-social support.
"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 is our fight against breast cancer," stated Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano during her presentation to the judges of Galing Pook 2024 on October 23, 2024.
Among the successes of Taguig City's Ating Dibdibin program is an increase in the breast cancer screening rate in Taguig by 8.48%, four times higher than the national average rate of 2.3%.
There has also been a 17% reduction in breast cancer deaths among women in Taguig due to early detection, community support, and quality healthcare services in the city.
"The City of Taguig remains committed to providing the best. We will soon open a bigger breast cancer center to accommodate more patients. We will upgrade equipment, continue to provide quality cancer care, and offer more holistic survivorship and supportive care for patients," assured Cayetano.
Here are the other LGUs and their winning programs in the Galing Pook Awards 2024:
(Photo from Galing Pook Facebook Page)
The Galing Pook Award is a recognition for local governments that provide programs with positive impacts on their communities. It is a program by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), DILG Local Government Academy (LGA), Ford Foundation, academic institutions, and institutions promoting excellence in governance.
