ILOILO City – The Ateneo School of Government (ASOG) has partnered with the Provincial Government of Iloilo and Transcending Institutions and Communities, Inc. (Transcend) to train Iloilo’s local leaders in advancing tobacco control and evidence-based health policies.
The partnership, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed at Park Inn Hotel in Iloilo City, paves the way for the second cohort of the Leadership and Governance in Tobacco Control (LGTC) Executive Course—a flagship program designed to equip local government units (LGUs) with the knowledge and tools to develop effective, FCTC-compliant, and sustainable health policies.
“This partnership reflects our shared commitment to evidence-based policymaking and health governance that truly empowers communities,” said Dr. Jennifer S. Oreta, Dean of the Ateneo School of Government. “By investing in leadership and local capacity, we are building a future where good governance is central to public health.”
Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Maria Soccoro Quiñon and Transcend board member Ronald Aguilar joined Dr. Oreta in the signing ceremony, which also featured a commitment signing by mayors, vice mayors, and local officials pledging to champion tobacco control initiatives in their municipalities.
Among those present were mayors Nielo C. Tupas of Barotac Viejo, Elizalde G. Pueyo of Cabatuan, Milliard S. Villanueva of Concepcion, Carl Vincent G. Mondejar of New Lucena, and Rafael Enrique “Adi” P. Lazaro of Pototan; vice mayors Roberto T. Belleza Jr. of San Rafael and Arvin L. Losaria of Lambunao, along with other municipal officials, councilors, and health officers.
The four-day, 36-hour LGTC Executive Course—set from October 8 to 10, 2025—will be implemented across Western Visayas. It aims to cultivate local champions capable of institutionalizing strong tobacco control measures and embedding good governance principles in public health.
ASOG, through its Ateneo Policy Center, continues its mission of “forming leaders, leading reforms” by ensuring that leadership and governance remain at the heart of public health transformation./PN