Iloilo wins award as smoke-free city

GOLD AWARD Iloilo City antismoking task force chief Iñigo Garingalao, gestures as he receives the award in Vientiane on Aug. 5. —Photo from Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas

MANILA, Philippines — Iloilo City has earned the honor of being a gold awardee of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Smoke-Free Award for demonstrating a strong commitment to implementing and maintaining smoke-free environments.

The awarding ceremony took place during the opening session of the 16th Asean Health Ministers Meeting on Aug. 5 in Vientiane, Laos.

Out of the five exceptional nominees, which were Bogor City in Indonesia (silver); Saensuk Municipality in Thailand (bronze); Bagan in Myanmar (bronze); and Luang Prabang in Laos (plaque of appreciation), Iloilo City was awarded the sole Gold Award.

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According to the Department of Health (DOH), the recognition underscored Iloilo City’s exemplary smoke-free and vape-free policies, which have been acclaimed for their effectiveness and significant impact on public health.

“This achievement is a testament to the city’s unwavering dedication to promoting public health through innovative and effective tobacco control measures. Iloilo City’s success inspires—not just in the Philippines, but across the Asean,” Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said in a statement.

The DOH chief commended the city, headed by Mayor Jerry Treñas, its city health office, and its community for their collective efforts in creating a healthier, smoke-free environment.

“The DOH fully supports and encourages such initiatives as we continue to work toward a smoke-free future,” he added.

“This recognition serves as a testament to our city’s unwavering commitment to fostering a smoke-free environment and prioritizing public health. We will continue to strive for excellence in public health and environmental stewardship,” Treñas said in a Facebook post on Friday.

The Asean Smoke-Free Award is an initiative of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, given to local governments that demonstrate a sustained response to tobacco consumption control, including enforcement and awareness advocacy.

Iloilo City was the DOH’s sole nominee in the country, following the recommendation of the Smoke-Free Cities Asia Pacific Network Philippines, a coalition of cities of the 10 countries in the Asean that support each other to achieve its goal of a smoke-free region.

Comprehensive approach

According to the DOH, Iloilo City stood out for its comprehensive approach to tobacco control, marked by the establishment of a functional smoke-free task force, close collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental organizations and the provision of smoking cessation services.

These efforts are supported by local officials of Iloilo City, along with the legislative bodies, the CHO, and the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (Icast).

In an earlier statement, Iñigo Garingalao, executive director of Icast, said the achievement was not an end goal but a title to be sustained and defended.

“Achieving a smoke-free city is a journey; it doesn’t rest on just one person. These awards show that we are heading in the right direction. The Iloilo City we are enjoying today must be appreciated and is a fight we must continue,” added Garingalao, who is the city’s antismoking czar and concurrent city agriculturist.

Among the city’s noteworthy efforts is the strict enforcement of its Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance, which prohibits smoking and vaping in public places, including heritage sites.

From January to June 2024 alone, the task force apprehended 3,507 violators of the city’s antismoking ordinance, with over 600 being students and 10 minors. Notably, 751 of these violations involved e-cigarettes.

In 2020 when local governments were busy with the COVID-19 pandemic, Iloilo City provided Brief Tobacco Intervention to 2,106 individuals, and at least 958 individuals have successfully quit smoking.

In addition to its firm stance against tobacco advertisements, promotions, and sponsorships, Icast also runs a Kids’ Smoke-Free Storytelling Program to educate youth about the dangers of smoking.

Iloilo City has previously received the “World No Tobacco Day Award” from the World Health Organization, hosted multiple Smoke-Free Asean Regional Workshops, and achieved “Red Orchid Award” Hall of Famer status from the DOH.

The city government has also been invited by local governments and government institutions both in the Philippines and abroad to provide technical assistance for their antismoking initiatives.