The Regional Peace and Order Council – National Capital Region Special Action Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (RPOC-NCR SAC AID), through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) – NCR, hosted a webinar entitled “Moving Barangays to be Tobacco Free: An Orientation on Smoke-Free Environment” on June 23, 2022 via Zoom.

The webinar, held in two batches, was participated in by Punong Barangays, Barangay Secretaries, Kagawad Chairs on Health, and DILG-NCR Field Officers from all 17 NCR LGUs.

Representatives from the Department of Health – Metro Manila Center for Health Development, Action on Smoking and Health (MMCHD-ASH) Philippines and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) shared their expert knowledge on the current tobacco epidemic, government initiatives on tobacco control in the Metropolitan Manila, and strategies to counter tobacco-related issues, one of which is to recognize LGUs through the giving of highly coveted awards such as the Red Orchid Awards (ROA).

Mr. Romeo Apuli Jr. from the DOH-MMCHD tackled the Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Program which highlighted the dual epidemic of tobacco use and vaping.

Representatives from the ASH Philippines, Mr. Cenon Alejandro J. Paje and Mr. Rommel R. Arriola discussed FCTC MPOWER: A Policy Package to Reverse Tobacco Epidemic, and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and MPOWER, respectively.

Also taken up was a discussion on the Smoke-Free Environment Campaign in Metropolitan Manila, led by Ms. Jasmin P. Lagahit from the MMDA, who briefed the participants on the campaign’s status and activities.

The webinar was conducted as part of the RPOC-NCR SAC AID’s advocacy initiatives to inform participants on the current tobacco epidemic and current efforts to counter tobacco-related issues by adopting strategies aimed at tobacco control.