THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Education (DepEd) office in Makati City have signed an agreement to provide anti-smoking and anti-vaping lectures to select schools in the city.
The memorandum of understanding was signed during the launch of the Brigada Eskwela 2023 Makati High School, meant to educate and capacitate learners on the dangers of smoking, vaping, and secondhand smoke.
The MMDA Health, Public Safety and Environmental Protection Office will facilitate the lectures, which will also include an orientation on anti-littering and basic first aid and disaster management.
The MMDA will capacitate students on training that will enhance their skills in using the website as a platform for educating young people on the ill effects of smoking and vaping on a person’s health. The project will be a continuing program and is set to end in June 2025.
MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes said one of the keys to a smoke-free and healthy environment in the school is to educate and capacitate the learners.
“We will teach the students the importance of health and the dangers of smoking, vaping, as well as secondhand smoke, to our wellbeing through social media and/or video conferencing platforms,” Artes said.
An orientation on anti-littering will also be provided aimed to inform students on the effects of throwing small litter that may cause clogging of waterways leading to flooding. Likewise, the students will undergo a course on Basic First Aid and Disaster Management for incidents of fire, flooding, and earthquake.
“The MMDA believes that one of the keys to a successful implementation and sustainability of an integrated health program is the active involvement and participation of partner organizations and school communities in identifying problems brought about by smoking and vaping, seeking feasible solutions, and tapping into existing resources,” Artes said.
DepEd Makati, for its part, is responsible for securing the health and wellness of students, thus enjoining the MMDA to Schools to be given lectures are Makati High School, San Isidro National High School, San Antonio National High School, Gen. Pio del Pilar National High School, Bangkal High School, Maximo Estrella Senior High School, Fort Bonifacio High School, Benigno Ninoy S. Aquino High School, Makati Science High School, Pitogo High School, Tibagan High School, Nemesio I. Yabut Senior High School.
The discussions, which will be done either online or face-to-face, will have a maximum of 50 students per session, per school. It will be a mix of junior and senior high school students.
Also present at the MOU signing were Makati Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, officials from DepEd Makati, and their private partners such as China Bank Savings, and Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA).