BAGUIO CITY— The Baguio City Economic Zone Authority (BCEZA) has thrown its support to the city’s smoke-free program by declaring the business zone a smoke-free area, itself, carrying a nationwide slogan, “Revolution Smoke-Free.”
“Revolution Smoke-Free is part of the revolution I am implementing in PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority). Baguio City Economic Zone is a model smoke-free ecozone,” said PEZA Director General Charito Plaza during the launch of the program at the BCEZA compound on Monday.
Plaza is advocating a community of private companies supporting healthier workplaces for their employees.
She said the BCEZA locators support Baguio City government’s effort to get rid of smoking in the city.
“As part of its best practices, PEZA will require all other economic zones nationwide to follow the example, as this is a living testimony to how we can show concern for the health and welfare of our employees, their families, and the entire nation,” Plaza added.
Plaza said Baguio City was chosen as the venue for the launch because of the alignment of the campaign’s objective to the city’s commitment to prioritize public health.
Baguio City passed Ordinance 34-2017 or the “Smoke-Free Baguio” ordinance in May 2017. The city then created a task force to implement the ordinance all over the city.
The task force has also deputized agents, including grandmothers, to enforce the ordinance down to the barangay level. **Pamela Mariz Geminiano/ PNA
