Int’l community cites Balanga City for ‘inspirational’ feats on health

BALANGA CITY, Bataan – “Whether big or small, we hope other cities in the Southeast Asian Region can follow your example and learn from Balanga City’s experience.” This was the message of Director Bungon Rithiphakdee of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) to Balanga City Mayor Jose Enrique Garcia III when she, together with health leaders from seven countries, visited the flourishing Bataan capital.

The director who hailed from Thailand is one of the many international leaders who recognized the city’s rising efforts to sustain a 100 percent, tobacco-free environment which garnered nods from the global community.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health-Institute for Global Tobacco Control in USA honored Garcia, a three-term mayor with vast reforms against smoking; Jo-Ann Latuja-Diosana, a senior economic consultant for Action and Economic Reforms; and Lezak Shallat, founder of Chile Libre Tabaco (Tobacco Free Chile), in an awarding ceremony held in Abu Dhabi on March 17. “[The participants] showed both great achievements in tobacco control, inspirational leadership and great application of lessons learned from capacity building programs at the Institute for Global Tobacco Control,” said the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School.

A healthy lifestyle-conscious component city, Balanga has been the renowned school’s staunch partner in achieving its big mission of “Protecting Health, Saving Lives – Millions at a Time.” When the 9th Global Tobacco Control Leadership Program was conducted by the Bloomberg Philanthropies on June 7-22, 2014 in Maryland, USA, Garcia was earlier offered a study grant and became the only Filipino to attend the comprehensive, in-depth course together with 109 delegates from different countries. Bloomberg Philanthropies reported that every year, millions of people around the world die of preventable causes such as tobacco use.

In the Philippines alone, the World Health Organization reported that 10 people die every hour because of smoking-related diseases. This translates to 240 deaths every day or 87,600 deaths every year. “What I have learned in the said course will be disseminated among the 144 cities in our country and we will also urge them to have their own anti-smoking ordinance,” said the mayor.

These efforts to make a healthy living environment for the people paved the way for another award given to Balanga City. It was bestowed with the Smoke-Free City Award when it hosted the SEATCA on August 27, 2014. Balanga is recognized for its “Exemplary commitment to protecting the health of its people by making all enclosed places and outdoor places 100% smoke-free,” the award stated. In 2013, the award was given to Davao City. “If a small city like Balanga and a big city like Davao can do it, why can’t other cities do it?” said SEATCA Director Rithiphakdee.

Given all the international accolades Balanga receives, it maintains its humble roots of service to reach scores of thousands of Balangueños who have embraced the city mantra of healthy living. With a 100 percent-tobacco free environment, the health and education-oriented city takes pride in its Red Orchid Hall of Famer award, the highest citation the Department of Health bestows to institutions with impeccable anti-smoking programs.

And not only in tobacco control does Balanga soar. With Mayor Joet Garcia at the helm, a Presidential Lingkod Bayan awardee, the city raked in recognitions for outstanding nutrition, dengue prevention, healthy lifestyle advocacy, tuberculosis control, and environmental health services among others given by various institutions.

As the city gears forward and enjoins all sectors in achieving its vision: “Balanga University Town 2020: The Emerging Hub for Knowledge-Based Businesses in the Philippines,” its end goal of building a family-oriented city with a strong learning atmosphere is within reach. “Balanga’s 2020 vision will remain sharp,” said Garcia.