ASOG Presents at the Project Inception Planning Workshop in La Union

The Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), through its Ateneo Policy Center (APC), participated in the Project Inception Planning Workshop held on 16-17 October 2024, in San Fernando, La Union. The event, organized by the Partnership for Health, Nation Building, and Socioeconomic Upliftment, Inc. (PNBI), in collaboration with the Office of the Provincial Governor of La Union (PGLU), the Center for Health and Development (CHD) RO1, and with financial support from Vital Strategies, aimed to strengthen the capacity of local government units (LGUs) in crafting and enforcing robust smoke-free policies. The workshop focused on coalition-building and capacity enhancement at both provincial and municipal levels to foster effective advocacy frameworks.

The two-day workshop featured presentations from various stakeholders, each showcasing initiatives supporting the Smoke-Free La Union project. Notable presenters included representatives from key institutions such as the Provincial Health Office of La Union (PHO-PGLU), SK Pederasyon of La Union, Center for Health and Development (CHD) RO1, Provincial DOH Office-La Union (PDOHO), Department of Budget and Management (DBM) RO1, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO)/Provincial Youth Development Office (PYDO), La Union Police Provincial Office (LUPPO), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Association of Private Schools, Colleges, and Universities – La Union (APSCU-LU), and the Filipino Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of La Union, Inc. (FCCCILU). Selected La Union LGUs and technical partners also contributed their insights.

Engr. Roberto A. O. Nebrida, PNBI Board of Trustees member, facilitated the workshop, setting the tone with an overview of the sessions and aligning participants' expectations. He underscored the importance of knowledge exchange, sharing best practices, and adopting context-specific approaches to implementing effective smoke-free and vape-free (SF-VF) initiatives.

ASOG was represented by Alen Josef A. Santiago, Program Manager of APC’s Tobacco Control and Governance (TCG) program, and Ma. Dolores “Jing” C. Causon, Training Director for the upcoming Leadership and Governance in Tobacco Control (LGTC) Executive Course. Santiago presented the course, which is offered by APC in partnership with Executive Education (ExEd), and invited participants to engage with the program. He highlighted the critical role of leadership and good governance in advancing local tobacco control efforts.

In addition to ASOG, key partners such as Transcending Institutions and Communities Inc. (TICI) and the City Health Services Office (CHSO) of Baguio City shared best practices from their own tobacco control and governance initiatives. TICI’s Vice President, Ms. Ma. Cecilia C. Agpawa, presented the collaborative efforts behind Smoke-Free Benguet, while Baguio City’s CHSO, represented by Medical Officer IV Dr. Donnabel Panes and Chief of the Public Order and Safety Division Mr. Daryll Longid, discussed their successes in tobacco control within their locality.