NegOr intensifies anti-smoking campaign
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 29 (PIA) -- The province of Negros Oriental has stepped up its anti-smoking fight through a “Sponge” campaign to sustain the anti-smoking ordinances passed by 17 local government units (LGUs) in the province.
During the Sponge launching-presscon, Provincial Health Officer 1 Dr. Edgardo Barredo warned the public smokers of the ill effects of tobacco to human life.
The Sponge campaign aims to inform cigarette smokers in the province about the serious impact tobacco has on their health, and motivate them to quit before they become sick.
According to Dr. Barredo, this campaign graphically depicts the amount of tar that collects inside an average smoker’s lungs. This brings so many cancer diseases in the body that is fatal, he added.
In his testimony, Mabinay Mayor Jango Uy narrated how he suffered coughs for three months due to acute bronchitis.
Mayor Uy, however, has never been a smoker. He was a victim of secondhand smoking as his father was a chain smoker. His father was the former Chief of Hospital in Mabinay, but he promised to stop smoking shortly after he was diagnosed a smoking-related disease.
The mayor pledged to fully support the program through an anti-smoking ordinance passed by the municipality.
Meanwhile, Pamplona Mayor Apollo Arnaiz testified being a chain smoker for four years, but said he decided to quit for longer life, to keep the family and seven grandchildren healthy, and for his officemates' well-being. As leader in the town, he has to lead by example.
With the ordinance, nobody will smoke inside the town hall, the mayor said.
Negros Oriental is one of the provinces nationwide being piloted by the Department of Health and the World Lung Foundation as more LGUs have been pushing and passed ordinances for tobacco control in the Philippines. (mbcn/JCT/PIA 7-Negros Oriental)
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PPO to hold 6th provincial volunteer probation aides congress
By Jennifer C. Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, June 29 (PIA) -- The Parole and Probation Cluster Offices in Negros Oriental will hold its 6th Provincial Volunteer Probation Aides Congress on June 30.
It will start at 8 a.m. at the Multi-Purpose Hall, St. James the Greater Parish, Tanjay City.
Chief Parole and Probation officer Maria Necita Mariño said over a hundred volunteer probation aides from all over Negros Oriental and Siquijor provinces are expected to attend the day-long affair.
Mariño said the congress aims to discuss and propose some plans and innovation that would enhance the Volunteer Probation Aide Program in the grassroots level as provided for by law.
With the government’s efforts to strengthen the community and corrections pillars, the activity will also tackle some policies and procedure in the conduct of their active community involvement especially in crime prevention, treatment of offenders and the administration of the criminal justice system.
The congress is jointly sponsored by the local governments of Tanjay City and Pamplona.
Mariño said the Negros Oriental-Siquijor Parole and Probation Cluster Offices which include Tanjay City Parole and Probation Office (PPO), Dumaguete City PPO, Negros Oriental Province, Bayawan City, Siquijor Province, Bais City, Guihulngan City and Canlaon City together with the Tanjay City Parole and Probation Office Volunteer Probation Aides Association spearheads the activity. (JCT/PIA-Negros Oriental)