20/09/2026
๐๐๐ผ๐ด๐ผ๐ป ๐ฆ๐บ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ/๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฒ-๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ธ ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐, ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ป๐ด๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐น๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป
September 18, 2026 โ The Municipal Goveronemnt of Itogon held the 3rd quarterly meeting of the Smoke/Vape-Free Task Force at Balingway Hall, with Municipal Legal Officer Atty. Jaqueline Nabaysa-Gosingan presiding over the session on Wednesday, September 16.
The meeting was attended by members of the Committee on Health, barangay representatives, and representatives from various municipal departments.
Itogon Nurse and Smoke-Free Itogon Focal Person Ida Jances P. Ciriaco discussed the six MPOWER effective to***co control strategies, including restrictions on the sale of to***co products. She also discussed the health risks associated with secondhand smoke and noted that there is no safe level of exposure to it.
Ciriaco further explained that smoking is an addiction caused by ni****ne and discussed measures that may be adopted and implemented to strengthen a 100 percent smoke-free environment. These include enforcing existing smoke-free regulations, ensuring that at least one-third of cigarette packaging carries pictorial health warnings, prohibiting cigarette advertisements, and complying with the applicable business tax on the sale of ci******es, currently set at Php 800.00.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Government recommended additional legal provisions for possible inclusion or amendment to the municipalityโs existing smoke-free ordinance. The proposed amendments remain under review and discussion.
The meeting also provided an opportunity for barangay representatives to raise concerns and recommendations regarding the implementation of smoke-free ordinances in their respective areas. Atty. Gosingan likewise recommended reiterating and strengthening awareness of the existing smoke-free-related ordinances to support their proper implementation throughout the municipality. // Capsula, Padcayan; GIP
