ASOG, The Union meet with Balanga City mayor and APCAT chair
03 Jul 2023
On 21 June 2023, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The UNION), together with the Ateneo School of Government, held a planning meeting in Bataan with the co-chair of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control and Non-Communicable Disease Prevention (APCAT), Balanga City Mayor Hon. Francis Anthony Garcia, to outline strategies and activities focused on tobacco control for 2023 to 2024.
During the meeting, developments about the APCAT International Conference in Bangladesh this July were discussed, along with possible collaborations with other organizations working on tobacco control to harmonize efforts at the national level. Key points that will strengthen not just the City’s initiatives but more importantly the alliance’s activities were also outlined to explore how The Union and ASOG can further provide support.
The City Health Director of Balanga City, Dr. Mariano Antonio Banzon, also joined the meeting to highlight local initiatives like the Tobacco Free Generation and the incorporation of tobacco control advocacies in future activities of the city.