The Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) has partnered with public interest law group ImagineLaw to strengthen its advocacy and campaign against smoking.
On Friday, July 22, 321 pairs of shoes, slippers and other footwear were displayed at the activity center of SM City Iloilo in Mandurriao district.
The art installation was created to commemorate the 321 Filipino who die every day due to tobacco-related diseases.
This was also part of the law group’s call for stronger tobacco control policies to protect public health from tobacco companies.
The 321 pairs of footwear, which all came from donations, will be given to the Ati community and the city’s Balay Dalayunan, a facility that houses children in conflict with the law (CICL).
Lawyer Sophia San Luis, ImagineLaw executive director, lauded the Iloilo City Government’s commitment to protect Ilonggos from the harmful effects of smoking and vaping.
The city government’s anti-smoking initiatives received commendations from the Department of Health (DOH) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Mayor Jerry Treñas, a former smoker himself, is a known public health and tobacco control champion.
Last year, the Sangguniang Panlungsod updated their anti-smoking ordinance to include stiffer penalties and stronger regulations on heated tobacco products such as vapes and e-cigarettes.
“Nanawagan po kami sa gobyerno na pangalagaan ang kalusugan ng mga Pilipino. Sana ay gayahin ng national government ang Iloilo na hindi nagpapadala sa panliligaw ng tobacco industry at they remain steadfast sang kanilang commitment na magpatupad ng kanilang tobacco control laws,” said San Luis.IMT
