Philippines: Baguio’s Anti-Smoking Drive

Lauded
By Gaby B. Keith, The Manila Times
BAGUIO CITY: Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin
“Benhur” Abalos Jr. praised the Summer Capital’s comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance
and urged other local government units to adopt the same effective measure during the
Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca) 8th Asia Pacific Smoke-Free Meeting on
Oct. 27-28, 2022 at Baguio Country Club with the theme “Rising amidst the challenges:
Strengthening and sustaining smoke-free implementation and enforcement.”
Mayor Benjamin Magalong, anti-smoking task force chairman, said his administration will
continue to strictly enforce the city’s anti-smoking ordinance “without fear or favor” as it
continues to prioritize the health and safety of residents.

Adopted in 2017 and principally authored by former councilor Joel Alangsab, the Baguio
Smoke-Free Ordinance prohibits the use, sale, distribution, and advertisement of cigarettes
and other tobacco products in certain places and imposes penalties for violations.

Also present during the meeting was Department of Health (DoH) Undersecretary Beverly
Ho who spoke on promoting smoke-free as a way of life.

Around 150 participants joined the two-day activity with delegates coming from Cambodia,
Lao, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar and the Philippines. The next meeting
is slated for 2024 in Lao.

City health services office assistant head Dr. Celia Brillantes said the meeting aimed to share
best practices on smoke-free implementation and enforcement as part of comprehensive
tobacco control and health promotion, among others.

The event was organized by the city government of Baguio, the DoH, the World Health
Organization-Western Pacific Region, Smoke-Free Cities Asia Pacific Network, and the
Seatca.