Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna called on all women residents of the city to be aware of the illnesses common to women as she pushed for the early detection of cervical and breast cancer.

Lacuna aired the message as she was joined by Manila Health Department chief Dr. Arnold "Poks" Pangan, Vice Mayor Yul Servo, Department of Public Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire and Philippine Cancer Society Inc. program director Romeo Marcaida during the Intensified Cervical Cancer Screening for Manila City Hall employees held at the City Hall's Freedom Triangle yesterday.

In the said event, Lacuna described as "alarming" the fact that breast and cervical cancer are among the top killers in the country nowadays.

She said that public hospitals have the capability to detect cancer at an early stage but lamentably, it is usually too late for many when the said illness is detected.

As she also encouraged all female employees to have themselves tested, the mayor expressed concern over the increase in cases of cervical cancer, which is considered a "silent killer," which manifests in its late stage already.

The lady mayor urged all women in Manila to have themselves checked as she also called on parents to have their children aged nine to 14 vaccinated against human papillomavirus, the virus that causes most cervical cancers as well as some cancers of the anus, vulva, vagina and oropharynx or the back of throat including base of tongue and tonsils.

She urged women aged 30 to 49 to have themselves screened for breast and cervical cancer where any abnormality may be detected at once.