Taguig City and Jhpiego Bring HPV DNA Testing to Workplaces for Women's Health
In the bustling urban landscape of Taguig City, women often grapple with a pressing challenge: juggling demanding work schedules with the necessity of accessing vital health services. Cervical cancer screening, a crucial tool for early detection and effective treatment, is frequently postponed or overlooked, especially by women in the formal workforce who struggle to take time off. Ahead of World Cancer Day, a groundbreaking workplace-based initiative in Taguig City is addressing this issue head-on by delivering lifesaving services directly to women at their places of employment and reimagining the roles of healthcare providers.
Expanding Access Through the CLAMS 2 Project
Through the expanded Philippines Centralized Laboratory Model for HPV DNA Screening (CLAMS 2) Project, implemented by Jhpiego, the Taguig City Health Office is extending HPV DNA testing beyond conventional health facilities and into corporate environments. Taguig City, recognized as the fifth-most populous city in the Philippines and a key economic hub in eastern Metro Manila, serves as an ideal setting for innovations that bridge public health systems with private-sector employers. This initiative underscores a growing acknowledgment that workplaces can act as strategic touchpoints for the secondary prevention of cervical cancer.
By integrating screening into everyday work settings, this approach significantly reduces barriers to access, enhances screening uptake, and supports earlier detection and treatment. These factors are essential in lowering the incidence and mortality rates associated with cervical cancer, ultimately contributing to better health outcomes for women across the city.
Pilot Programs at Eight8Ate and Team Pacific
Recently, Jhpiego introduced HPV DNA testing at two prominent companies in Taguig City: Eight8Ate Holdings Inc., a rapidly expanding food and restaurant operator, and Team Pacific Corporation, a leading semiconductor assembly and test services provider based in the Philippines. This effort is being carried out in collaboration with the Taguig City Health Office and the Women Workers for Health Empowerment Network, highlighting the importance of cross-sector partnerships among government, civil society, and the private sector.
At the heart of this initiative lies an innovative shift in roles. Instead of depending solely on external health teams, workplace health providers, human resource personnel, and occupational health and safety officers within Eight8Ate Holdings Inc. and Team Pacific Corporation received specialized training to deliver high-quality, gender-transformative HPV DNA testing services. These staff members, who are already trusted figures within their organizations, now serve as workplace-based health champions.
Empowering Women Through Training and Support
The training emphasized both technical proficiency and respectful, rights-based service delivery. Workplace health champions provided clear information about HPV and cervical cancer, stressed the importance of timely screening, and supported women in making informed decisions. With proper consent obtained, they guided women through self-collection processes while ensuring privacy, safety, and dignity throughout the experience.
For women workers, this model represents more than mere convenience; it affirms their right to health without forcing them to choose between earning an income and receiving care. As Rochelle Porras of the Women Workers for Health Empowerment Network noted, "When women can access screening in a space where they already feel secure and supported, it reinforces their dignity and their power to make informed decisions about their own bodies. Workplace-based services recognize women not just as workers, but as individuals whose health matters."
Benefits for Employers and Health Systems
From an employer's perspective, this initiative demonstrates that supporting employee health is both practical and impactful. By leveraging existing human resource systems and safety protocols, companies can contribute to public health goals without disrupting daily operations. Camie Alcoran, Environment, Health, and Safety Officer at Eight8Ate Holdings Inc., shared, "This approach fits naturally into how we already care for our workforce. Supporting cervical cancer screening in the workplace is a practical way to promote well-being, and we're proud to help protect the health of our women employees."
The partnership with the Taguig City Health Office ensures alignment with local health systems. Samples collected through the program are processed via the centralized laboratory network established under CLAMS 2, maintaining high-quality standards while expanding reach and strengthening continuity of care.
Scalability and Future Goals
For Jhpiego Philippines, this initiative signifies a broader shift toward systems strengthening and scalability. By embedding cervical cancer screening within workplace structures, the model reaches women who might otherwise be missed by facility-based services. As Dr. Ingrid Magnata, Country Program Manager of Jhpiego Philippines, emphasized, "Transforming HR personnel and safety officers into partners for health is a powerful example of systems change. By working with local governments, civil society, and employers, we are building a scalable model that brings us closer towards accelerating cervical cancer global elimination goals."
The efforts at Eight8Ate Holdings, Inc. and Team Pacific Corporation mark the beginning of a series of similar workplace initiatives planned under CLAMS 2. As more employers participate, cervical cancer screening can become a routine part of workplace health and safety practices, enabling women to access quality, timely, and gender-transformative services without sacrificing wages or work time.
By meeting women where they are and empowering those already in their environments, this initiative showcases how innovation, equity, and collaboration can converge to strengthen health systems and save lives, setting a precedent for future public health efforts in urban centers across the Philippines.
