MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte, Feb. 124 (PIA) – Together with the eleven (11) mayors and their representatives from different regions throughout the country joined the Smoke-Free Asean Workshop last February 19. The workshop aimed to achieve a smoke-free Philippines.
Mayor Samaco in his report through “Maasin City in Action” program over radio station DyDM this morning, February 24 said that the workshop was to formally organize a network of mayors to make their localities smoke-free. “We (mayors) were tasked to inspire, teach and spread our best practices how we achieved a smoke-free locality and let the other mayors duplicate the same,” he narrated.
The Smoke-Free Asean Workshop which was held at the Manila Pavillion carried the theme dubbed as, “Forming an Alliance: Working together to achieve a Smoke-Free Philippines.” It was organized by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, the city mayor added.
He said that part of the discussions were forming the vision and mission of the body, drafting smoke-free declaration, organizing a network among the mayors, to name a few.
Other topics presented were the overview of Smoke-Free Philippines and Smoke-Free Cities ASEAN Network by Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz, Co-Chair of Davao City Anti-Smoking Task Force, and the sharing of experiences and challenges among the mayors’ smoke-free initiatives facilitated by OIC-Department of Health Promotion and Communication Service Dr. Ivan Escartin, while Balangiga City Mayor was the presiding officer, the city mayor said.
Among other mayors who participated the workshop include:Mayor Joey Garcia, Balanga, Bataan; Mayor Evelyn Uy, Dipolog City; Mayor Jed Mabilog, Iloilo City; Mayor Alan Celino, Roxas City; Mayor Joseph Salvador Tan, Santiago City and Mayor Rommel Maslog of Talisayan, Misamis Oriental.(rgc/PIA8-SoLeyte)
