The Pasig City government was recognized by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday, March 24, for its anti-tobacco use efforts and programs after receiving the highest score in the Index for Tobacco Control Sustainability Philippines (ITCS-PH).
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the city got the highest score in the 27 indicators of the program.
The Certificate of Recognition and plaque awarding was attended by the Pasig City Anti-Smoking Task Force consisting of different departments of the city government and civil society organizations.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto underscored the importance of the agency in strengthening the ties and coordination of the 17 local governments in Metro Manila.
Pasig's strict tobacco reduction initiatives include the issuance of smoke-free policies, conducting of smoking cessation seminars, and the adoption of cleaner technologies for its government vehicles.
Tobacco Control Tool
Developed by the MMDA through its Smoke Free Project in 2024, the ITCS-PH is a localized tool that identifies the structures, policies, and resources that a local government unit already has in place and thus assesses its progress towards establishing a sustainable tobacco control program.
Artes said the MMDA adapted the existing ITCS tool of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and modified it to fit the local context and nuances of subnational tobacco control as implemented by the local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila.
“I would like to thank the DOH and DILG for accepting the localized version of the ITCS-PH tool. Further improvements of the tool, if any, are welcome, and our agency will be pleased to work with you on more innovative strategies for a sustainable environment,” said Artes.
“Additionally, the ITCS-PH tool is intended to be circulated nationwide for usage of other LGUs to assess their respective tobacco control sustainability level,” he further said.