Baguio City signs up for Ating Dibdibin

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong signed on March 21 a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with ICanServe Foundation Inc. for the establishment of the Ating Dibdibin breast cancer control program in the city. This partnership aims to strengthen breast cancer awareness, early detection, and patient care in Baguio City by enhancing the training of medical and barangay health workers.

Through this collaboration, the City Government of Baguio and ICanServe will train city health personnel on clinical breast examination and patient navigation. Ating Dibdibin aims to detect breast cancer cases early and for patients receive timely and correct treatment, as well as the necessary support and guidance throughout their journey.

“With this initiative, Baguio City strengthens its commitment to accessible and proactive healthcare for its residents. By empowering health workers and increasing public awareness, the city moves closer to creating a future where breast cancer is diagnosed early and treated with urgency and compassion,” Mayor Magalong said in a statement published on his Facebook page.

ICanServe founding president Kara Magsanoc-Alikpala, who signed the MoA, thanked the Mayor and his team, saying she was “honored to stand side by side with all of you to save lives from breast cancer and keep families whole.” Minda’s Buddies president and ICanServe coordinator for the Cordillera Region Marivic Bugasto worked tirelessly for Baguio City to have its own Ating Dibdibin program. A Stage 4 breast cancer survivor herself, Bugasto believes the city will benefit immensely from a strong network of support that will be built through Ating Dibdibin.

“I have witnessed first hand the great need for this program in our city. Signing the MOA is just the first step, but it is a significant step. It shows the support of the City Government of Baguio, which is vital because we want Ating Dibdibin to provide the meaningful and accessible service needed by those diagnosed with breast cancer—our mothers, sisters, daughters and friends,” Bugasto said.

Ating Dibdibin is a community-based breast cancer control program the ICanServe Foundation created in partnership with a local government. It is institutionalized through a local law or ordinance to ensure permanence of the program and annual funding. This is achieved through a partnership with local government through evidence-based interventions for breast cancer prevention, early detection, early diagnosis, timely treatment, palliative care, other aspects of supportive care and patient navigation. ICanServe also helps the local government forge partnerships with facilities, service providers, socio civic organizations, to enhance the resources of the local government unit in creating the service delivery network and patient referral pathways.

Baguio joins ICanServe’s roster of partner cities for Ating Dibdibin: Marikina (since 2008), Panabo (2010), Taguig (2012), Muntinlupa (2014), Tagum (2020) and San Juan (2020).

Photos by Boy Cabrido