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[av_heading heading=’Iloilo giving cash to tobacco-free LGUs’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY IME SORNITO
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Sunday, March 18, 2018
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ILOILO City – Cash prizes await local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo province that stand out in the fight against tobacco smoking.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan has approved on third and final reading Provincial Ordinance 2017-164, which establishes the Search for the Most Smoke-Free/Tobacco-Free Municipality/City.
An evaluation team will set the criteria, evaluate the LGUs, tabulate the results, and schedule the awarding ceremony for the yearly search, stated the ordinance authored by Provincial Board member Liecel Mondejar-Seville (2nd District).
The municipality and city that will have the highest evaluated score will be recognized as “The Most Smoke-Free/Tobacco-Free Municipality/ City,” stated the ordinance approved on March 13.
They will get a P100,000 cash prize and a plaque of recognition each. First runners-up will get P70,000 each while the second runners-up, P40,000 each.
Moreover, the town or city that will bag the prize for three consecutive years will be given a Seal of the Most Smoke-Free/Tobacco-Free Municipality/City and a cash prize of P200,000.
The evaluation team shall comprise the chairperson of the Provincial Board Committee on Health; the Provincial Health Office; representatives from the Provincial Legal Office, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government – Iloilo; a nongovernment organization against smoking; and the Provincial Information and Community Affairs Office.
Under the ordinance, the Search aims to:
* Motivate municipalities/city to adopt measures that will protect its constituents from hazards of tobacco smoke and exposure to secondhand smoke, third-hand smoke, and vaping.
* Encourage LGUs to enact a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance and discourage tobacco industry reference.
* Regulate the sale of tobacco to any citizen born on or after Jan. 1, 2010.
* Minimize the number of Filipinos getting sick each year of tobacco-related diseases such as stroke, heart disease and various cancers, among others.
* Restrict access to tobacco products and electronic nicotine delivery systems, particularly among minors, to provide a more supportive environment for those attempting to quit tobacco use.
* Be receptive and dynamic with preventive measure and programs against tobacco abuse and tobacco’s injurious and harmful effects to the constitution of the province.
Funding for enforcement shall come from the antismoking program allocation of the Provincial Health Office, the ordinance said./PN
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