HAPPY LUNGS, HAPPY LANGS FOR A SMOKE-FREE LA UNION!

On April 10 to 11, ImagineLaw, in collaboration with the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), Vital Strategies, and Partnerships for Nation Building, Inc., conducted a province-wide workshop supporting cities and municipalities of La Union Province in drafting and amending local tobacco control ordinances. 

Through the workshop, PGLU, through its Provincial Health Office, discussed tobacco control issues on the ground. The Graduate Studies and Research Institute of Lorma Colleges also presented the results of a youth tobacco survey conducted in the province. 

Workshop participants, which included health officers, medical professionals, teachers, youth leaders, and local officials, learned about policy design and advocacy and engaged in breakout sessions to: 1) analyze existing tobacco control policies; 2) map stakeholders; 3) list down priority actions and interventions, and 4) identify opportunities and challenges in implementation. To assist in the process, ImagineLaw provided recommendations for improvement and shared key provisions of a model ordinance consistent with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. As the session closed, the participants committed to a set of next steps, especially looking into the model tobacco control ordinance recommended by ImagineLaw. 

As the stakeholders continue to align towards creating a smoke- and vape-free La Union, the momentum built in the workshop and the commitment of local leaders, especially PGLU, serve as a promising foundation to advancing public health and protecting present and future generations from the harms of tobacco.