Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Danilo Lim urged all local government units in Metro Manila to fully implement the anti-smoking policy.

The MMDA chief said it is important to strictly implement the smoke-free law to improve the air quality in the metropolis.

“I hope that all of the 17 Metro Manila local government units (LGU) would be proactive in implementing a 100 percent smoke-free environment as a way to safeguard public health,” Lim stressed.

His statement came after the cities of Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong were conferred their back-to-back win in the Red Orchid Award (ROA) by the Department of Health (DoH) last Thursday, 10 October held at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel.

The award is given annually to smoke-free compliant government agencies, LGU, and government hospitals nationwide.

This is the second time that the cities of Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong have been named recipients of the Red Orchid Award.

For winning the ROA, the two cities received a grant amounting to P100,000 that could be utilized for their exceptional implementation of tobacco control programs.

Lim said he commends Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong for their unrelenting efforts to strictly enforce its anti-smoking regulations and protect the public from second-hand smoke that can lead to a variety of health ailments.

The nominees were judged based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “MPOWER” initiative.

“MPOWER” stands for the six proven tobacco control strategies, namely: monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; protect people from the effects of smoking; offer help to quit tobacco use; warn against the dangers of tobacco; enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and raise taxes on tobacco.

The Pink Orchid Award, on the other hand, was bestowed on Taguig City.

Also recognized during the awarding ceremony were the LGU of Pateros, Malabon and Valenzuela for winning the White Orchid Award.

The ROA, an awards system developed by the DoH, aims to encourage LGU and other government agencies to implement 100 percent the tobacco-free policy, as mandated by the DoH Administrative Order 10.