BALANGA City: The World Health Organization (WHO) has named Bataan Gov. Jose Enrique Garcia 3rd as this year’s one of three awardees from the Western Pacific Region for vital contributions to tobacco control.
The other awardees were Hangshou Municipal People’s Government from China and the HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, HealthBridge Vietnam from Vietnam.
WHO honors individuals and organizations from the regions of Africa, America, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific for their outstanding contributions to tobacco control through the annual World No Tobacco awards.
The world health body took notice of the “Tobacco- Free Generation” movement in the Philippines that was widely accepted in Balanga City and encouraged other municipalities in Bataan to join while Garcia was then city mayor and continued during his governorship.
“Buong-puso nating inihahandog sa ating mga kababayan ang prestihiyosong parangal na tinanggap ng inyong lingkod sa WHO bilang pagkilala sa ating mga sinimulang hakbangin sa lalawigan ng Bataan sa ilalim ng Tobacco Free Generation (TFG) campaign upang mapigil ang paglaganap ng tobacco at mabigyan ng proteksyon ang ating mga kabataan laban sa masamang epekto nito,” the governor said.
Garcia received the award from WHO representatives during the World No Tobacco celebration Thursday at the Bataan People’s Center in Balanga City that has for the theme “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference.”
