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. (RTA/PNA)
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