15,000 participants to join in the launching of TFGBataan

BALANGA, CITY, Bataan – About 15,000 participants coming from various sectors including the academe, government and non-governmental organizations will join the massive cardio-vascular exercise and attempt to surpass the world’s largest dance fitness class on the launching of the Tobacco Free Generation (TFG) movement on Friday morning (March 18).

Mayor Jose Enrique S. Garcia lll has articulated that the TFG, as the centerpiece of the city government’s commitment to promote healthy lifestyle in a smoke-free environment serves as an end-game reform initiative to eradicate youth and adult smoking among those born after 2000.

The launching of the TFG movement and its fear-provoking task of highlighting the risks of smoking and great importance of a vigorous way of life will be held in a single venue along the three-kilometer stretch of Enrique Garcia, Sr. Avenue in the agricultural village of Tuyo, this City.

Citing World Health Organization (WHO) study, Garcia stressed about 200,000 Filipino men would develop smoking related diseases in their productive years of age which reportedly cost taxpayers some P 43 billion.

However, it was learned in Balanga City alone, hospitalization and health care per capita is estimated at P 8.76 million yearly with the city government subsidizing 20 percent or P 1.75 to P 3.5 million under its Galing Card Medical Assistance Program.

The estimated income opportunity loss for Balangueno families with family members dying of smoking related disease is P 10.5 million annually aside from mortality rate of 87 per year brought by tobacco smoking in the fast growing component city of Balanga, Garcia said.

Medical reports showed tobacco contributes to poverty since tobacco users are in higher risk of falling ill and dying prematurely of cancer, heart attack, respiratory diseases or other related diseases depriving their families of much needed income.

Garcia added about 60 Tobacco-Free Generation (TFG) symposia will be conducted in 25 barangays, 25 elementary schools, 5 secondary schools, one state university and 3 privately-run colleges in June, this year, as an integral part of the information, education and communication strategic plan .