28 E. Visayas LGUs, gov’t offices cited for successful anti-smoking drive

TACLOBAN CITY – Twenty eight government offices, hospitals, and local government units were honored by the Department of Health – Eastern Visayas (DOH-8) for successfully implementing the anti-smoking policy.

“We, at the DOH, are happy that many local government units, hospitals and government offices here in the region are supporting our campaign to attain a smoke-free environment,” said John Paul Roca, DOH-8 regional information officer.

He cited in particular local chief executives who are supporting the anti-smoking drive even if it would result in revenue loss.

“It’s really a matter of political will on the part of our local chief executives,” Roca said.

The winners received P100,000 worth of medicines and smoking cessation drugs.

The local government units honored were: Arteche, Eastern Samar; Ormoc City in Leyte; Mapanas, Northern Samar; Tomas Oppus and San Francisco, both in Southern Leyte.

Meanwhile, the towns of San Antonio in Northern Samar and Limasawa and Padre Burgos, in Southern Leyte, were elevated to the Hall of Fame for winning the Red Orchid Award for three consecutive years.

The first local government unit to be elevated to the Hall of Fame is Maasin City, also in Southern Leyte, in 2012.

Two health offices were also honored: the Biliran Provincial Health Office and Northern Samar Provincial Health Office.

The Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, Allen District Hospital in Allen, Northern Samar, and the Tacloban City Hospital were bestowed the Hall of Fame Award.

The rest of the awardees were 19 jail facilities across the region.

The winners were cited for passing policies that promote a 100 percent tobacco-free environment.

Roca said the DOH hopes that with the active participation of local government units and other government offices and facilities, the number of cigarette smokers would further decline.

GSG