BAYOMBONG—For its fight for a tobacco-free environment, Nueva Vizcaya’s provincial capitol here has been awarded the most coveted Red Orchid Award frrm the Department of Health for the third time and is now a Hall of Famer.
Red Orchid Awards was conceptualized to combat tobacco use and to promote a tobacco-free environment. Tobacco use is the major contributor in cardio-vascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes and cancer.
“The provincial capitol remains the leading local government office in our fight against smoking,” Gov. Carlos Padilla said.
Padilla said the Hall of Fame Award in the Hospital Category was also given to Dupax town District Hospital and Kasibu town Municipal Hospital for winning the award three times.
Lieutenant Tidang Municipal Hospital in Kayapa town and Diadi Emergency Hospital in Diadi town were recognized for the second time, which makes them candidates for a Hall of Fame citation.
In the local government unit category, the municipality of Kayapa won its second award and the Municipalities of Santa Fe and Aritao won their first. The Municipality of Bayombong won the Pink Orchid Award.
The Red Orchid Awards honors smoke free campaigns by local government units, government offices or government hospitals.
In June, Nueva Vizcaya was given the Hall of Fame Award on the national level at the awarding ceremony in the Manila Hotel. It is the only province that received that award.
The municipalities of Kasibu and Ambaguio were also adjudged Hall of Famers. They were the only LGUs from Cagayan Valley or Region 2 that won the award.
The DOH Red Orchid Awards winners are known for advocating a 100-percent tobacco-free environment using the World Health Organization MPOWER initiative.