By Roel Amazona/PNA
PALO, Leyte — The Department of Health (DOH) 8 (Eastern Visayas) on Friday recognized local government units and government agencies for strictly implementing the no-smoking policy.
In the 2018 Red Orchid Award, 22 government offices, three hospitals, and seven local government units were cited by the DOH for their strict implementation of a smoke-free environment.
“This serves as an inspiration and reminder to all to continue working for better life of community members,” DOH-8 Director Minerva Molon said in her message during the awarding ceremony.
Among the awardees (government offices category) were the PhilHealth field offices in the cities of Tacloban, Ormoc, Maasin, Borongan, Calbayog and Catbalogan and in the towns of Naval, Biliran; the regional office of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology; jails in Naval; Catarman, Northern Samar; Burauen, Leyte; San Juan, Southern Leyte; Carigara, Leyte; Baybay City; Borongan City; Ormoc City; and the municipal jails in Palo and Palompon.
For government hospitals, the Red Orchid Awardees were Allen District Hospital, Northern Samar Provincial Hospital, and the Tacloban City Hospital.
For the local government category, awardees were the towns of Silago, Limasawa, San Francisco, and Padre Burgos in Southern Leyte; San Antonio in Northern Samar; Arteche in Eastern Samar; and Ormoc City.
The regional offices of PhilHealth and Civil Service Commission bagged the Hall of Fame award for government offices.
Arteche town Mayor Roland Boie Evardone was proud of their achievement and recognition given by the DOH. Arteche is the only town in Eastern Samar to receive the award.
“The campaign became successful because of the support of the people, and I am very much thankful, proud and happy for the people of Arteche because we are able to sustain the anti-smoking ordinance,” Evardone said.
The local council of Arteche enacted the ordinance banning the sale and distribution of cigarettes in the town on March 6, 2017.
“Technically, smoking in the entire town of Arteche is banned because we don’t have smoking areas and we prohibit selling. If there are people who are into smoking, they must do it inside the premises of their house,” the mayor added.
Two weeks ago, the local police nabbed two males from Basey town selling cigarettes. They were given a citation, as stated in the ordinance and were fined PHP1,000 each.
“I hope that through that incident, people will become aware of our policy and that they will respect our decision to ban cigarette in Arteche for our children to have a better and healthy future,” Evardone said.
The DOH Red Orchid Award, an annual search for the 100-percent Tobacco-Free Environment, is given to those who positively respond by creating policies and implement a 100-percent smoke-free environment.
Tobacco use has been recognized as a top contributor to cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Red Orchid is the highest award given in this particular search followed by the second highest award, the Pink Orchid, and the third the White Orchid.
The Pink Orchid, which is given to local governments that are able to achieve less than 90 percent of a tobacco-free environment, was given to the Northern Samar Provincial Capitol.
