The Department of Health (DOH) Regional Office 8 has declared Maasin City College as the Best Smoke-Free College throughout Eastern Visayas.

 “The Maasin City College strictly implemented the smoking ban basing on city ordinance for which Maasin City was awarded the Red Orchid award for two times,” Maasin City Mayor Maloney L. Samaco reported in a phone interview over radio station DyDM.

He said that the two other choices of the DOH-8 evaluating team were Leyte Normal University and the Naval State University. Though, the two schools also implemented the smoke-free within their campuses but not as strict as the management of the Maasin City College, he added.

”Advertisements of the ill effects of smoking are seen within the the school campus, such as posters, stickers and the like, and seminars were conducted to the teachers and other teaching staff, students, among other personnel of the school regarding the executive orders of anti-smoking capmpaign program,” Samaco informed during the “Maasin City in Action” regular program hosted by Zaldy Olita.

The best practice that was also considered by the evaluators was the search operation by the security guard upon entry of the school campus to the students whether they had brought along a cigarette or a lighter, Mayor Samaco noted.

The city mayor said that the implementation of anti-smoking campaign drew positive reception from the teaching staff and the students of the Maasin City College, saying that “I am grateful for the support of the college administration as well as the city officials for the support they have extended to the programs of the city government.”

The awarding ceremony is set on December 6, 2011 to be held at Tacloban City, he disclosed. “Maasin City has again reaped another award in the field of health program, and the city of Maasin will be competing as the Best Smoke-Free College at the national level,” Mayor Samaco further said.

by R.G. Cadavos

pia.gov.ph

Tags: smoke-free college