Iloilo City is Gold ASEAN Smoke-Free Award recipient

Iloilo City 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 creating a smoke-free metropolis.

The ASEAN Smoke-Free Award is an initiative of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), given to local government units (LGUs) in the Western Pacific Region that demonstrate a sustained response to tobacco consumption control, including enforcement and awareness advocacy.

Iloilo City was the Department of Health’s sole nominee in the country, following the recommendation of the Smoke-Free Cities Asia Pacific Network (SCAN) Philippines.

“It is my honor to inform you that Iloilo City has been selected as one of the distinguished recipients of the ASEAN Smoke-Free Award. This remarkable achievement is a testament to your leadership and the collective efforts of your community in promoting a healthier environment,” said Dr. Domilyn C. Villareiz, SEATCA Program Manager, in a letter to Mayor Jerry P. Treñas.

The awarding ceremony will take place during the opening session of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in Vientiane, Laos, on August 8, 2024, where Treñas may have the opportunity to share Iloilo City’s best practices.

Iñigo D. Garingalao, Executive Director of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST), emphasized that this achievement is not an end goal but a title to be sustained and defended.

The anti-smoking czar and concurrent City Agriculturist noted that the core of Iloilo City’s anti-smoking initiative is health, as smoking and its socio-economic implications can derail progress.

He also expressed his shared aspiration with the city mayor to build a community that fully embraces anti-smoking efforts as a way of life.

“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,” Garingalao added.

Among the city’s noteworthy efforts is the strict enforcement of Regulation Ordinance No. 2021-255 (The Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance of Iloilo City), which prohibits smoking and vaping in public places, including heritage sites. ICAST data revealed that 3,507 violators were apprehended from January to June 2024.

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 Department of Health.

The city government has also been invited by LGUs and government institutions both in the Philippines and abroad to provide technical assistance for their anti-smoking initiatives.

“Our way forward now is to prepare for emerging nicotine products and enhance ordinances to address the surge in vaping, thereby protecting the health of the Ilonggos. As a regional hub, Iloilo City should play the role of a leader in influencing neighboring LGUs,” said the anti-smoking czar. (Pearl Socias/Iloilo City PIO)