Launching blue ribbon campaign and smoke-free merit badge

Province of Albay, the Philippines

A two-part meaningful ceremony was conducted 28 June 2012 in Legazpi City, the capital of
Albay Province, spearheaded by the Smoke-Free Albay Network (SFAN) in collaboration with
the World Health Organization. This ceremony marked a new wave of the smoke-free
campaign in Albay.
More than 200 guests attended the event from the 18 cities and municipalities of Albay,
which included City and Municipal Health Officers, Mayors, Members of the Albay Provincial
Board, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of the Philippines (BSP and GSP), the media, business
owners and the members of the SFAN.
A series of technical working group meetings were held to prepare for this grand event. The
technical working group was composed of nine representatives from SFAN member
agencies: Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Information Agency, BSP, GSP, Provincial
Health Office, Albay Police Provincial Office, KABALIKAT (a group of radio communicators)
and local civil society groups, Pinoy Power Coalition and ADD+VANTAGE and chaired by the
member from the Provincial Health Office.
Blue Ribbon Campaign advocacy materials such as polo shirts were produced prior to the
event. DOH provided advocacy fans to manifest their support to the Blue Ribbon Campaign.
The ceremony was opened by SFAN Chair Herbert Borja who proudly welcomed the guests
and encouraged the LGU leaders to join SFAN in advocating for smoke-free Albay.
Launching of the Blue Ribbon Campaign commenced with a video presentation showing the
campaign conducted in Singapore, followed by the awarding ceremony. The awardees
include four local government units (LGUs) of Albay Province, namely, Ligao City, Tabaco
City, Municipality of Daraga and Legazpi City, who are early adopters in enacting a local
smoke-free ordinance. In addition, Legazpi City recognized 10 local business establishments
promoting 100% smoke-free indoor environments, emphasizing the establishments concern
in protecting their customers against second-hand smoke.
Mayor Geraldine Rosal of Legazpi City which received DOHs Red Orchid Award in 2010
encouraged other LGUs to make their cities and municipalities smoke-free. In her message,
she emphasized how hard it was the first time they implemented the smoke-free ordinance
of Legazpi in 2005, but with the support of partners and the political will of then Mayor Noel
Rosal, the implementation was sustained.
Following the Blue Ribbon awarding ceremony, another awarding ceremony for the SmokeFree Merit Badge was carried out. The Merit Badge is to recognize the choices of the youth to
be smoke-free and for completing certain tasks and challenges given to the scouts prior to
the event such as posting of no-smoking stickers to public utility vehicles, collecting
ashtrays and cigarette butts, convincing smokers to quit and making scrapbooks on
smoking. The Merit Badge was awarded to 10 scouts from GSP and BSP.

In November 2011, Albay adopted a local smoke-free ordinance. In addition to the

prohibition of smoking in public places, the ordinance also prohibits the purchase of tobacco
products to minors as well as sales to minors and restricts tobacco advertising, promotion
and sponsorship activities. The new smoke-free ordinance gave further momentum to the
smoke-free initiative of Albay.

PHILIPPINES The Albay province has officially set a ban on the use of plastic bags,
Styrofoam and other synthetic materials after the implementation of Provincial Ordinance
No. 2011-3.
The launch of the Ordinance was held at the LCC Mall Activity Center and led by Provincial
Governor, Joey Sarte Salceda and Vice Governor Harold Imperial together with the members
of Provincial board.
The ordinance will take effect this coming June after the provincial government lifts the one
year moratorium provided to commercial establishments in all 15 towns and three cities of
the province.
Under the P.O. No. 2011-13, all grocery owners, department stores, supermarkets, chain
retailers and mini stores can no longer use plastic, styrofoan and synthetic materials as
packaging or bags.
Those found violating the ordinance will be meted P1,000 P5,000 and have their business
permits cancelled.
The provincial government together with other enforcement agencies have already met with
the owners of the affected commercial establishments to discuss the salient features of the
said ordinance.
Plastic bags usually finds its way into waterways, rivers, canals, beaches, streets and parks
as a litter, and when burned these emit toxic fumes into the air. Plastic materials are nonbiodegradable and will take about 400 years before they start to decompose.
The ordinance aims to decrease the volume of plastic pollutants and strengthen its
environmental protection measures in the interest of public health and safety.