The Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology, successfully hosted a crucial stakeholder engagement event on Monday, November 17, 2025. Held in a hybrid format, the event titled "AI Against Cervical Cancer: A Call To Action to Build the FIRST Philippine Cervical Image Bank and Expand Affordable HPV-DNA Access" was convened by the Cerv.ai Project Team in partnership with the End Cervical Cancer Philippines Organization, Inc. (CerviQ-ECCPOI).
The gathering brought together representatives from research institutions, the academe, government agencies, and civil society organizations. The core purpose was to facilitate a collaborative discussion on establishing the First Philippine Cervical Image Bank and exploring accessible HPV-DNA testing technologies, with the goal of developing an AI-assisted cervical screening framework that integrates digital imaging and molecular testing. The initiative seeks to foster continued dialogue, innovation, and policy alignment in harnessing emerging technologies—particularly artificial intelligence (AI)—to strengthen women’s health programs and advance equitable, technology-driven healthcare solutions.
The Cerv.ai project, officially titled "Identification of Regions-of-Interest in Cervical Pre-Cancer and Cancer Screening Images Using Computer Vision," focuses on building AI-driven tools and datasets to enhance the accuracy and speed of early cervical cancer detection.
The program commenced with the Welcome Remarks delivered by Franz A. De Leon, Ph.D., Director of DOST-ASTI. Following this, Dr. Jan Aura Laurelle Llevado, Division Chief of the Cancer Control Division at the Department of Health (DOH), presented the Statement of the Problem: The Cervical Cancer Burden in the Philippines. Dr. Jesus Randy “Bogs” Rivera, Founder of CerviQ, then provided the Project Overview: Towards AI-Driven Cervical Screening.
The technical perspectives followed:
- Ms. Roxanne S. Aviñante, Senior SRS from the Computer Software Division of DOST-ASTI, discussed AI-Driven Cervical Cancer Prevention: Integrating the Speculoscope, Cervical Image Bank, and HPV-DNA Testing.
- Dr. Youxiang Wang, Ph.D., Founder and CEO of Atila Biosystems, USA, presented on Global Innovation, Local Impact: Advancing Affordable High-Risk HPV-DNA Testing for Cervical Cancer Elimination.
During the interactive engagement session, a key area of social innovation was shared by Dr. Cecilia Llave and Dr. Herdee Gloriane Luna from the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS). PCS is open to a potential collaborative efforts with mobile bus support to integrate community outreach with the Cerv.ai project's AI capabilities.
This integration is designed to serve as a social innovation for the proper detection of cases needing urgent care:
- PCS Mobile Bus Support: The bus provides a physical platform to conduct mass screening in marginalized communities, offering services like Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA/AAW) and on-site treatment (cryotherapy) for suitable precursor lesions.
- Streamlined Patient Pathway: This synergy ensures that individuals requiring immediate follow-up—either for prompt cryotherapy or urgent referral for advanced procedures (confirmed by AI and/or affordable HPV-DNA testing)—are efficiently identified, accelerating the critical time between screening and definitive treatment.
The afternoon was dedicated to interactive engagement, beginning with a Question and Answer / Panel Discussion facilitated by Mr. Jeffrey A. Aborot, Supervising SRS of the Computer Software Division at DOST-ASTI. This was followed by a comprehensive Multi-Sectoral Discussion and Networking session.
The event concluded with a Concluding Message from Ms. Joanna G. Syjuco, Division Chief of the Computer Software Division, DOST-ASTI. The stakeholders' insights from the event are expected to greatly contribute to the realization of a nationally coordinated, technology-enabled strategy to eliminate cervical cancer in the country.
