KIDAPAWAN CITY (MindaNews/04 June) — The city government received a ‘Pink Orchid Award’ from the Department of Health (DoH) for its campaign against smoking.
The award was received by City Mayor Rodolfo Gantuangco and a representative from the City Health Office in a ceremony held last week at the Philippine Trade and Training Center in Pasay City in celebration of the World No Tobacco Day.
In a simple convocation rites held today at the city gym, the mayor turned over the award to the Civil Security Unit (CSU), one of the units of the city government tasked to implement Republic Act 9211 or the Anti-Smoking Law in the Philippines.
The city garnered a total score within the range of 70 to 89 percent based on the criteria set by the DoH for implementing a 100-percent tobacco-free environment.
To complement RA 9211, the city passed City Ordinance 258 or the Anti-Smoking Ordinance.
Since March this year, the CSU has arrested and penalized at least 450 violators of the law, including police and army officers. They were caught smoking inside Mega Market, one of the public places where smoking is strictly prohibited.
The Pink Orchid Award is given to a local government unit that attains 70 to 89 percent of their implementation of the DoH’s campaign against smoking.
Davao City has earned a hall of fame award for having received the award three times in a row since 2010.
Reports from the DoH showed that 86 of the 113 nominees this year received the award.
The awardees, the DoH said, were chosen on the strength of their comprehensive efforts to implement a 100-percent tobacco-free environment following the World Health Organization’s initiative which highlights the six proven tobacco control policies namely: monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from tobacco smoke; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn against the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and raise taxes on tobacco. (Malu Cadelina Manar/MindaNews)