The Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) through its Council on Gastrointestinal Malignancies conducted a community lay forum on colorectal cancer (CRC) and a workshop for barangay health workers on CRC screening last August 19, 2025 in Batangas City. This marks the first major campaign on colorectal cancer screening through community outreach in the Philippines outside of March, which is the official month of this cancer awareness.
The kickoff event was organized by the Council on GI Malignancies, led by this writer who heads the council in collaboration with the PSG Southern Luzon Chapter headed by its President, Dr. Donnazon Reyes-Macasaet. The speakers included this writer, Dr. Joseph Nino Espino, and Dr. Inah Coronel. The first session was a lay lecture on colorectal cancer, its clinical presentations, diagnosis, treatment, and screening options. A call to action was recommended by the speakers to encourage timely screening, a healthy lifestyle, and early detection to prevent and treat the cancer effectively.
The second session was a workshop for barangay health workers (BHWs) as physician’s partners in promoting CRC awareness and in identifying eligible patients in their communities for screening to be linked to the proposed national CRC screening program. Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT) cards were distributed to the eligible patients among the audience of 115 persons. Those who tested positive were subsequently scheduled for their screening colonoscopy during the Endoscopy Caravan organized by the Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy which was held two weeks after in the same locality.
Prevalence of ColorectalCancer in the Philippines
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the Philippines. An estimated 20,736 patients were diagnosed to have a new cancer in the colon or rectum in 2022 based on the data of the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN). This cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality among Filipinos. The Philippine Society of Gastroenterology is the lead organization in gastrointestinal health and endoscopy in the national and international health agenda in the country. PSG has been leading several physician organizations and societies in promoting colorectal cancer screening and early diagnosis in the Philippines.
March has been designated as ‘Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month’ by the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This advocacy started in 2000 in the United States and serves to highlight the importance of screening and prevention for this cancer. This worldwide initiative aims to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, also the 3rd most common cancer globally.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Program in the Philippines
Starting this year, the Council on GI Malignancies is promoting the expansion of this cancer awareness among Filipino patients from the traditional March celebration into a whole-year campaign. This strategy will strengthen and solidify this growing advocacy, which is not only advocated by gastroenterologists but now joined by colorectal surgeon and medical oncology groups.
This expansion will result in more time for health promotion for this deadly cancer, through community outreach and health education of the disease. Learning via face-to-face forums and through social media will be the essential foundation in further spreading the advocacy in the country. This is indeed a pioneer development in increasing efforts in the CRC public awareness program among the organizations and agencies promoting this movement in the country.
This premier activity was held at the Kumintang Ibaba Barangay Hall in Batangas City on August 17, 2025. The strong support and presence of the gastroenterologist-members of the PSG Southern Luzon Chapter ignited the passion, community and bayanihan spirit for the advocacy, reflective of the ideals of our society. There were 115 attendees at the venue.
Dr. Ruiz stressed that ‘colorectal cancer is a preventable disease’ that can be achieved by removing polyps in the colon during a colonoscopy and reducing its risk by healthy lifestyle habits. Dr. Espino discussed the basics of colon cancer information appropriate for lay people. Dr. Coronel who gave the first ever lecture to barangay health workers on orienting them on how to recruit eligible patients for FIT screening, including how to collect specimens. In addition to the activity proper of the lay forum, there were a lot of enticements for the audience, like free food and fun exercises.
A barangay health worker (BHW) is a community-based volunteer trained to provide primary healthcare services. They are the first point of contact for the persons in their respective communities, and bridge the gap between the locality and the formal health system.
The Barangay Health Worker’s Manual on Colorectal Cancer Screening and Diagnosis is a priority project of the PSG President Rommel P. Romano and the PSG Board. This was tested during this activity and will continue to be a work in progress throughout the year until it is finalized for presentation to the Department of Health next year. This initiative will be one of the keys to success in the implementation of the proposed national colorectal cancer program to detect cancer early or in its pre-cancerous state.