ILOILO CITY – The Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. (PTSI) is eyeing the island province of Biliran in Eastern Visayas as one of the first provinces in the country to be declared tuberculosis-free.
This was disclosed by PTSI Executive Director Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial during the “Engaging Media for Health Literacy” conference organized by the Department of Health (DOH), which brought together journalists from the Visayas.
Ubial, a former health secretary, said Biliran was selected due to its manageable size, supportive local government, and island geography—factors that make wide-scale health interventions easier to implement. Similar provinces like Guimaras and Siquijor are also part of the campaign’s rollout, with Guimaras set as the pilot site.
“These areas don’t necessarily have high TB prevalence,” Ubial clarified. “But because of their size and governance, we can cover them fully and hopefully eliminate TB in a contained setting.”
Biliran, the smallest province in Eastern Visayas with only eight towns and a population of about 184,000, is seen as an ideal candidate for full-scale TB elimination. Seven of its towns are located on the main island, while the eighth, Maripipi, is a separate island municipality.
Ubial said the initiative was initially set to receive funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), but after the Trump administration defunded the agency’s humanitarian programs, the project will now rely on local funding from PTSI, DOH, and the concerned LGUs.
Testing and treatment will be free of charge, and efforts will center on mobile mass screening using ultraportable X-ray machines enhanced with artificial intelligence (AI).
“With just one battery, we can do 200 chest X-rays a day—far more than what traditional fixed X-ray machines can handle,” Ubial said.
Individuals diagnosed with TB will receive free treatment, and their close contacts—including household members and co-workers—will also undergo screening and receive TB preventive treatment (TPT) if needed.
Ubial emphasized the importance of TPT to stop latent TB—where the bacteria is present in the body but not causing active illness—from progressing into active disease.
“Latent TB can activate when a person’s immune system weakens,” she warned, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered TB flare-ups among people unknowingly carrying the bacteria.
The TB-free campaign reflects a strategic shift toward elimination in high-potential provinces, with hopes that success in Biliran, Guimaras, and Siquijor can serve as a model for other areas in the country.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
