A Future Without Cervical Cancer, Powered by Roche Diagnostics

Roche Diagnostics reveals through the families of Navotas City that cervical cancer can be

In the Philippines, cervical cancer is not just a statistic. We’ve heard the horror stories. From catching it too late to scrounging the resilience and willpower to endure rounds of treatment, it’s why some would rather live by the saying, “ignorance is bliss.”

It’s possibly one of the reasons why only 1% of women in the country have undergone HPV testing, leaving millions unaware of their risk.

But the world doesn’t let them forget. Whether it’s because they knew one of the twelve Filipinas who died from it that day or because they heard another report about HPV and cervical cancer, the worry haunts, “What if I carry the risk too?”

In Navotas, Roche Diagnostic Philippines helps women find closure to that question.

World-Class HPV DNA Screening, Now In Metro Manila

To celebrate its 120th anniversary, Navotas City, in partnership with Roche Diagnostics Philippines, has launched a citywide HPV DNA screening program — bringing free, preventive, and early-detection care directly to women in the community.

At the heart of the initiative is the city’s newly opened Molecular Laboratory, equipped with Roche’s cobas® 5800 system — a fully automated diagnostic platform aligned with global standards.

“Roche is proud to stand beside Navotas in advancing the WHO 90-70-90 goals,” said Marco Valencia Sanchez, Country Manager of Roche Diagnostics Philippines. “With our cobas® 5800 system, the city now has world-class HPV screening technology, bringing leading standards of care directly to the community.

The program is only the first step to a larger commitment to the World Health Organization’s targets against HPV— vaccinating 90% of girls, screening 70% of women, and treating 90% of those who test positive. Through this advanced technology, women—mothers and daughters—in Navotas now have access to high-quality HPV DNA testing, the same level of screening trusted by leading healthcare institutions worldwide.

Because for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and cervical cancer, prevention is truly better than intervention.

“Cervical cancer is preventable and treatable,” shared Dr. Manuel Mapue II of the Department of Health Metro Manila Center for Health Development. “Through citywide HPV DNA testing, Navotas provides women with earlier diagnosis and ensures access to treatment and support.”

With Roche Diagnostics Philippines supporting the program, global innovation is no longer distant — it is local, accessible, and life-saving.

Designed with Women and Families in Mind

The Navotas HPV DNA screening program makes testing more accessible and more comfortable, even offering self-collection options. Through the Centralized Laboratory Model for HPV DNA Screening (CLAMS), the city ensures high-capacity testing that reaches more women efficiently.

Navotas’ 2026–2030 cervical cancer roadmap focuses on a complete circle of care: vaccination, screening, and timely treatment. The program connects women who test positive to local treatment facilities, including Northbay Boulevard North Health Center, Bagong Lipunan Health Center, and Navotas City Hospital.

The results are already promising:

• 33.11% of girls vaccinated
• 84.96% of women screened
• 82% of HPV-positive cases treated

These numbers represent more than progress—they represent families protected.

A Promise to Keep Families Whole

Navotas City Mayor John Rey Tiangco emphasized that the program ensures every woman—regardless of income or background—can access reliable, life-saving care.

“As we celebrate our 120th anniversary, this program represents our promise that no Navoteña should lose her life to a preventable disease,” he said. “Success is defined by the lives saved, families kept whole, and women given the chance to live longer, healthier lives.”

Lorela Reyes, one of the city’s health advocates, chose HPV vaccination for her daughters—protecting their future before risk ever begins. Another advocate, Arlyn Policarpio, received timely HPV screening and treatment through the city’s coordinated care program, demonstrating how early detection changes outcomes.

End the Fight Against Cervical Cancer Before It Begins

For those who have seen loved ones battle cervical cancer, know that there’s a chance to win the fight before it has even started. Cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that is both preventable and treatable when caught early. Access should not remain a privilege; it should be a standard.

Through its partnership with Navotas City, Roche Diagnostics Philippines continues to demonstrate its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer by expanding access to advanced HPV DNA screening. With the globally trusted cobas® 5800 system, Roche brings international standards of early detection directly to Filipino communities—ensuring that prevention is no longer limited by geography or income.

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