The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) praised the cities of Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong for a back-to-back win in the Red Orchid Award (ROA) conferred by the Department of Health (DOH) last Thursday, October 10, held at the Manila Grand Opera Hotel.

The award is given annually to smoke-free compliant government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and government hospitals nationwide.

This is the second time that the cities of Muntinlupa & Mandaluyong have been named as recipient of Red Orchid Award. Moreover, the two cities have received a grant amounting to P100,000.00 that could be utilized for their exceptional implementation of tobacco control programs.

MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said that he commends the local governments of Muntinlupa and Mandaluyong for their unrelenting efforts to strictly enforce its anti-smoking regulations and protect the public from second-hand smoke that can lead to a variety of health ailments.

“I hope that all of the seventeen Metro Manila LGUs would be pro-active in implementing a

100 % smoke-free environment as a way to safeguard public health,” Lim stressed.

The nominees were judged based on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) “MPOWER” initiative.

“MPOWER” stands for the six proven tobacco control strategies, namely: M for monitor tobacco use and prevention policies; P for protect people from the effects of smoking; O for offer help to quit tobacco use; W for warn against the dangers of tobacco; E for enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; and R for raise taxes on tobacco.

Pink Orchid Award, on the other hand, was bestowed to Taguig City.

Also recognized during the awarding ceremony were the local government units of Pateros, Malabon, and Valenzuela for winning the White Orchid Award.

The ROA, an awards system developed by the DOH, aims to encourage LGUs and other government agencies to actively implement the 100 percent tobacco-free policy as mandated by the DOH Administrative Order No. 10.