BAGUIO CITY – Members of the city’s smoke free task force met recently with the Department of Health’s (DOH) validation team at the Health Services Office (HSO) conference room as the Summer Capital hopes to finally garner its first ever Red Orchid Award.
Leading the task force were city health officer Rowena Galpo and councilor Joel Alangsab who authored ordinance number 34, series of 2017, or the Smoke Free Baguio Ordinance that was approved by the local legislature last year and Dr. Donnabel Tubera, its action officer. Mayor Mauricio Domogan is task force chairman.
The two-man validating team was composed of a representative from the DOH central office and an officer of a nationally-recognized non-government organization that promotes clean air and against the use of tobacco products.
According to a news website, the DOH Red Orchid Award is an annual search for the 100 % Tobacco-Free Environment covering government workplaces, hospitals and local government units. It is given to those who responded positively, installed necessary policies, and implemented direct action of achieving 100% smoke-free offices, schools, public places, local government units, and other places where people congregate. It is the highest award given in this particular search. It is followed by the second highest award, The Pink Orchid, and the third tier, the White Orchid.
Tubera said tobacco use is recognized by medical experts as a major contributor in cardio-vascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes and Cancer.
She added that the award’s winners are judged based on their efforts to implement a 100% Tobacco-Free Environment using the World Health Organization’s MPOWER initiative that denotes the six proven tobacco control policies: Monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; Protect people from tobacco smoke; Offer help to quit tobacco use; Warn against the dangers of tobacco; Enforce bans on tobacco advertising; and Raise taxes on tobacco.** gaby keith
