THE 3rd Asean Anti-Smoking Workshop will be held in Iloilo City May 15-18 in recognition of the city's efforts to fight tobacco use.

Taking part in the workshop are more than 300 delegates from different cities in the Asean.

The choice of Iloilo for the workshop was announced last week, when Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog led the city delegation in receiving the Red Orchid Hall of Fame award from the Department of Health.

The city is a consistent Red Orchid awardee for the last three years for its innovations and programs to achieve a smoke-free environment.

Mabilog was accompanied by Councilor Joshua Alim, chairman of the Iloilo City Anti-smoking Task Force (ICAST), and ICAST executive director Inigo Garingalao in receiving the award.

Iloilo's anti-smoking drive was boosted with the passage of Regulation Ordinance 258 requiring a business license and regulating the sale of tobacco products, and Regulation Ordinance 259, Series of 2014, regulating the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products to minors with stores to be located 100 meters from schools.

Amendments to the two ordinances are being prepared to include daycare centers in the campaign against smoking.

Mabilog is also considering including all City Hall employees in no-smoking effort and hiring only non-smokers for municipal positions. (LCP/Sunnex)