Baguio City received the Gold Award at the second ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards (ASA) in Malaysia, recognizing its strong implementation and enforcement of smoke-free policies aimed at protecting public health.
The city received the recognition on Thursday, September 10, during the opening of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur.
The ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards recognize sub-national governments for achievements in implementing smoke-free policies aligned with the ASEAN Post-2015 Health Development Agenda and the 2017 ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention.
The awards are led by the Lao PDR government under ASEAN Health Cluster 1, in cooperation with the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Meanwhile, Baguio City Public Information Office said that the recognition highlights the city’s continued implementation of City Ordinance No. 34, s. 2017, or the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance, through the "combined efforts of city government offices, barangays, private sector partners, and volunteers."
Baguio's Gold Award marks the second time a Philippine city has received the top honor since the awards were launched. Iloilo City became the first Philippine city to receive the Gold Award during the inaugural ASEAN Smoke-Free Awards in 2024.
Pasig City, meanwhile, received a Bronze Award, along with other local governments from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand.
George Town in Penang, Malaysia, received the Silver Award, while Singapore was given a Special Recognition for its continued implementation of smoke-free policies.
HealthJustice Philippines commended Baguio and Pasig for implementing smoke-free and vape-free ordinances.
The awarding ceremony was held alongside the opening of the ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting, hosted and chaired by Malaysia's Ministry of Health.
