ILOILO – For its initiatives to achieve a 100-percent smoke-free environment, the provincial government bagged this year’s Red Orchid Award of the Department of Health (DOH) Region 6.
For this award – announced during DOH-6’s recent 2021 Regional Awarding of Partners and Stakeholders conducted online – the regional health office used as gauge the World Health Organization’s “MPOWER” criteria:
* Monitoring tobacco use and preventive policies
* Protecting people from the effects of smoking
* Offering help to quit tobacco use
* Warning about the dangers of tobacco
* Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship
* Raising taxes on tobacco.
What were these anti-smoking initiatives of the provincial government?
On Aug. 28, 2021, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. issued a memorandum order to all provincial government employees to adopt a 100% smoke-free environment policy at the provincial capitol, motorpool, nursery, and Iloilo Sports Complex.
The governor also issued Executive Order 269 to reconstitute the Iloilo Provincial Government Smoke-Free Task Force.
The province of Iloilo is also a member of the Regional Tobacco Control Network.
The provincial government, through the Provincial Health Office, disseminated informative and educational materials and conducted advocacy campaigns to raise public awareness against smoking.
A Smoke/Vape Free Task Force Council was created to handle the Smoking Cessation Program. Interventions were given to employees who were into smoking.
The “No Smoking” signages have been strategically posted at the capitol.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a provincial ordinance to prohibit the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places with corresponding penalties.
Furthermore, three province-run district hospitals also received the Red Orchid Award – Aleosan District Hospital in Alimodian, Ramon Tabiana Memorial District Hospital in Cabatuan, and Rep. Pedro Trono G. Memorial District Hospital in Guimbal.
The municipalities of Concepcion and Miag-ao were also Red Orchid Awardees./PN
