COTABATO CITY — For religiously banning smoking among its employees, two regional agencies in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) bagged the 2017 Red Orchid Award from the Department of Health, officials said Sunday.
ARMM Education Secretary John Magno said he received Friday the “Red Orchid citation plaque” from Health Secretary Francisco Duque III during ceremonies at DOH-Manila.
It was a citation from DOH central office to government agencies that actively and religiously support health programs aimed at making every Filipino healthy.
The DOH conducted nationwide surveys on the implementation of DOH’s anti-smoking campaign in all government offices and DepEd-ARMM earned a rating of 91 to 100 percent in its compliance with the advocacy.
Magno, a non-smoker, told reporters credit should go to all employees of DepEd-ARMM across the region.
“We would not have achieved this feat if not for the support of our rank-and-file personnel,” Magno said.
Magno said Regional Governor Mujiv Hataman is a non-smoker so it was not difficult to implement the ban, not only inside ARMM compound here but also in all schools and educational institutions in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, the provinces composing ARMM.
Regional Secretary Myra Mangkabung of the Department of Science and Technology also received a 2017 Red Orchid Award for strictly observing the non-smoking policy in work areas. (PNA)
