CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – As part of its Gender and Development (GAD) initiatives, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region-10 (BFAR-10) conducted an orientation on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) on June 4, 2026, at the Regional Operations and Fisherfolk Training Center in Macabalan, Cagayan de Oro City, aimed at raising awareness on disease prevention, protection, and overall employees’ wellness.

Representing the Regional Director Edward B. Yasay, Ms. Stephanie Tomarong, Officer-in-Charge of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Administrative Unit (PMEAU), formally opened the activity and emphasized the importance of making health and wellness orientations a regular undertaking within the agency.

According to Ms. Tomarong, the initiative seeks to equip government employees with the knowledge and awareness needed to maintain their health and well-being, enabling them to provide better public service. She emphasized the importance of institutionalizing health and wellness as a regular practice, noting that it should be consistently observed and applied in daily routines so that employees are not only made aware of their well-being but are also able to practice and prioritize it in their personal and professional lives, ensuring that they remain healthy, fit, and ready to deliver efficient service to their clients. 

“Importante nga sugdan nato kini isip regular nga kalihokan aron matagaan nato og pagtagad ang atong health and wellness. Dili lamang kita mahimong aware niini, apan kinahanglan usab nato kining ma-apply sa atong kaugalingon aron isip mga government employees, mahimong himsog ug andam kita sa pagserbisyo sa atong mga kliyente,” she said.

Served as the resource speaker during the orientation was Dr. Vaniza E. Bagolbol, Medical Officer of the Department of Health Regional Office 10’s Non-Communicable Diseases Cluster. She discussed the nature of HPV, its causes, modes of transmission, and preventive measures. 

Dr. Bagolbol underscored the importance of regular health screening, especially among women, as a vital step in the early detection and prevention of cervical cancer and other HPV-related diseases. She noted that screening helps detect possible health issues at an early stage, even in the absence of symptoms, allowing for timely medical attention and helping safeguard the health and well-being of women and their families. 

“We encourage everybody, especially women, to undergo regular screening because screening is very important. Pinaagi niini, mahibal-an nato ang posibleng problema sa sayo pa nga stage sa dili pa kini mahimong seryoso. Ang usa sa mga kababayen-an pwede makasinati og mga kausaban sa cervix apan wala sila mahimala, mao nga kung mahimo nato silang dasigon nga magpa-screen, makatabang kita nga mapabiling himsog ug luwas ang kababayen-an ug ilang pamilya,” she said. 

The speaker further explained that, to support preventive healthcare, the government continues to expand access to health services through various free programs, including vaccinations, screenings, and medical assistance initiatives such as the PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, aimed at strengthening health protection and ensuring wider healthcare coverage for Filipinos.

Following the discussion, participants actively engaged in a question-and-answer session, where they were able to raise concerns and seek further clarification on HPV and its prevention. To encourage participation and reinforce learning, prizes were also distributed by the Department of Health (DOH)-10 to employees who actively took part in the activity. (PACR/BFAR-10)