Phillipines: DOH Enforces Tobacco Strategy

Source from:  Sun Star  06/19/2013

THE National Government through the Department of Health (DOH) is enforcing stricter measures on tobacco control with a national tobacco strategy to discourage cigarette smokers.

Iloilo City, recent Red Orchid awardee on anti-smoking, will spearhead　the drive by enlisting the help of local barangay councils to enact local ordinances against cigarette smoking in their respective areas.

Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) executive director Iñigo Garingalao said that ICAST chairman and City Councilor Joshua Alim is now looking into the possibility of starting the campaign in the day care centers on kiddie tarpaulins with graphics to show the evils of smoking to the human body.

Other activities will include a regional grand advocacy march on June 28 from the Iloilo provincial Capitol to the City Hall for a program on anti-smoking, a 'Quits Bee' and an anti-smoking jamboree for youths slated on October of this year.

Garingalao reported that more than 4,000 smoking offenders were apprehended in 2012 and about 54 percent of these numbers are students and minors.

However, the campaign for a Red Orchid Hall of Fame award in 2014 is beyond the award but more on health and well-being of the individual, Garingalao said.

DOH assistant secretary Roslyn Jean Ubial, currently the officer-in-charge of DOH regional office in Western Visayas, is leading the Red Orchid Award in giving due recognition to initiatives of local government units against smoking. Enditem