Vizcaya vies for another smoking-free award

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines  – This province is vying again for this year’s national Red Orchid Award as a testament to its continued vigilance against tobacco smoking.

The province received the Department of Health-initiated award for the outstanding implementation of its ordinances banning tobacco smoking last year.

Six of the province’s towns – Dupax del Sur, Dupax del Norte, Solano, Villaverde, Quezon and Diadi – are also nominees among municipal governments for the prestigious award. The first three towns bagged the award last year.

Solano, under the leadership of Mayor Philip Dacayo, was the first local government unit in the region to impose a total ban on the use of tobacco products.