Bataan Governor Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia, Jr. received an outstanding recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO) for being one of the three awardees from the Western Pacific Region “for his vital contributions to tobacco control” which focused this year on protecting children from tobacco industry interference.
The other two awardees were Hangzhou Municipal People’s Government from China and the HealthBridge Foundation of Canada, HealthBridge Viet Nam from Vietnam.
Garcia was feted for his commitment to protect the Bataeno youth from the harms of tobacco.
WHO recognized Gov. Garcia’s leadership where “several measures have been implemented in the province to prevent tobacco industry interference in schools, communities and places frequented by minors”.
The governor also aimed “to gain public support for comprehensive tobacco control policies by implementing intensive campaigns, educational programs, and community outreach initiatives to raise awareness on the health risks associated with tobacco use.”
“Gov. Garcia’s Tobacco-Free Generation movement in the Philippines flourished in Balanga City during his term as mayor and has continued under his governorship.”
WHO especially cited the landmark “Tobacco-Free Generation” (TFG) movement in the Philippines which “flourished in Balanga City during his term as mayor and has continued under his governorship.”
Gov. Garcia’s dedication to creating a healthier and safer environment for children through the Tobacco Free-Generation campaign has encouraged other municipalities across the province to also join the movement.”
They added that Garcia’s “dedication to creating a healthier and safer environment for children through the Tobacco Free-Generation campaign has encouraged other municipalities across the province to also join the movement.”
Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) honors exceptional individuals and organizations across its six regions for their outstanding contributions to tobacco control through the prestigious World No Tobacco Day Awards. The recipients of the 2024 World No Tobacco Day awards, were handpicked from the regions of Africa, America, Eastern Mediterranean, Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Western Pacific.
For his part, Garcia vowed to intensify the efforts under the TFG program under his jurisdiction for many more years “until the Filipino youth is free from the claws of this insidious vice that has been affecting generation after generation of youth and their families.”
