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THE OFFICIAL E-NEWSLETTER OF THE PHILIPPINE INFORMATION AGENCY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.PIA.GOV.PH and the DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY - SIQUIJOR | WWW.DOST.GOV.PH
VOL. 3 | NO. 10 March 10 - 17, 2015
Siquijor lady mayor declares town as smoke-free
Rizalie Anding Calibo
SIQUIJOR, March 10 (PIA) - - Siquijor town mayor Mei Ling Quezon formally declared the town as smoke-free with its grand launching March 9 at its Capital Square. Apparently rejoicing for the local government unit’s (LGU) initiative, town folks from all its 42 barangays joined the parade amidst scorching heat as it started at 1:00 in the afternoon, each displaying smoke-free advocacy streamers of different designs and messages. Siquijor, being the pilot town for smoke-free in the province won support of the smoke-free awardee towns in Negros Oriental with no less than the mayors and other advocates attending and gracing the grand launching. Mayors Valente Yap of Bindoy, Bentham Dela Cruz of Amlan, Enrique Gonzales of Valencia, Hazel Billones of Jimalalud and Lawrence Limkaichong of La Libertad who are all anti-tobacco advocate and some recipients of the Red Orchid Award for their consistent and effective implementation of the smoke free campaign, stressed the need to put high on education and information campaign. All pledged support and encouraged the lady mayor and other local political leaders to have strong political will in implementing the government’s anti-smoking campaign. The town’s declaration is supported by Municipal Ordinance 654, “prohibiting the use, sale, distribution and advertisement of cigarettes and other tobacco products in certain places” as one of its comprehensive and effective tobacco control measures after seeing the urgency for local governments to denormalize the culture of smoking and tobacco consumption. T h e m u n i c i p a l i t y, i n i t s ordinance, recognizes the fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interest and public health policy, hence the need to be alert, be informed and get involved with tobacco control measures. (mbn/rac/PIA7-Siquijor)
On this Women’s Month, Siquijor Lady Mayor Mei Ling Quezon gives life to the theme: Juana, Desisyon Mo ay Mahalaga sa Kinabukasan ng Bawat Isa, Ikaw Na!” as she strongly advocates for a smoke-free environment with her declaration of Siquijor as a smoke-free town. (RACalibo)