16 Iloilo LGUs strengthen smoke-free and vape-free ordinances through ASOG Executive Course culmination

On 21 November 2025, the Ateneo School of Government (ASOG), through the Ateneo Policy Center (APC) and the Executive Education Program, and in collaboration with the Provincial Government of Iloilo (PGI) and Transcending Institutions and Communities, Inc. (Transcend), conducted the culmination program and graduation ceremony for the second cohort of the Leadership and Governance in Tobacco Control Executive Course at Diversion 21 Hotel, Iloilo City.

The executive course culminated with a series of productive plenary presentations wherein representatives from 16 participating local government units (LGU) from Iloilo shared their progress, plans, and achievements with their proposed smoke- and vape-free ordinances, in compliance with the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), Executive Order No. 26, and Republic Act No. 11900. The graduation ceremony for the Iloilo cohort was held in the afternoon, right after the plenary presentations were finished.

Out of the 16 LGUs, one LGU has successfully passed their newly proposed ordinance, 13 LGUs have approved their newly proposed and/or amended ordinances at the first and/or second readings, while two LGUs are about to file theirs.

The event culminates the second program implementation of this four-day executive course, equivalent to 32 training hours—a flagship training and capacity-building program designed to strengthen health governance and policy development at the local level. The first three days of the course was conducted from 8 to 10 October 2025, in Park Inn Hotel, Iloilo City, during which participants attended six lecture and workshop sessions on tobacco control and governance. This year’s cohort produced 34 graduates from the Provincial Health Office of Iloilo and 16 LGUs:

1. Anilao
2. Badiangan
3. Balasan
4. Barotac Viejo
5. Cabatuan
6. Concepcion
7. Dingle
8. Dueñas
9. Dumangas
10. Lambunao
11. Lemery
12. New Lucena
13. Oton
14. Pototan
15. San Dionisio
16. San Rafael

Culminating Program: Plenary Sessions

The morning program was spent on a series of plenary sessions with representatives from each participating LGU. The graduating students would each present their plans, progress, and achievements in relation to advancing their smoke- and vape-free ordinances in their respective municipalities. They presented brief overviews of their priority areas of work, the timeline of their work, and the kind of support they would need moving forward.

Each LGU received substantial feedback and technical advice from a panel of subject matter experts and learning partners: Ms Jasmin P Lagahit, Project Manager for Smoke-Free Campaign, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority; Atty Benedict G Nisperos, Legal Consultant of HealthJustice Philippines; Mr Iñigo D Garingalao, Executive Director of the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force; and Ms Ma. Dolores “Jing” C Causon, Training Director for LGTC, Ateneo School of Government. In this manner, the plenary sessions served not only as a culminating activity highlighting each LGU’s progress on their ordinances, but also as a platform for consultation of the panelists present.

Graduation Ceremony

The graduation ceremony formally opened with a video message from Dr Madeleine de Rosas-Valera, Senior Technical Advisor of Vital Strategies, congratulating the graduates of the Iloilo cohort for completing the course, commending them for their hard work, commitment, and resolve to protect the health of their constituents, as exhibited in their proactive participation in the course. She emphasized how the course is not only an academic achievement for the graduates, but also a pledge of leadership and service by each LGU represented.

This year’s cohort boasts a total of 34 graduates from 16 LGUs from the province of Iloilo. In their plenary presentations, the municipality of Lemery and the municipality of San Rafael have proudly reported that their newly drafted smoke- and vape-free ordinances are about to be filed, while the other 13 municipalities—Anilao, Badiangan, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Cabatuan, Concepcion, Dingle, Dueñas, Dumangas, Lambunao, Oton, Pototan, and San Dionisio—have reported successful endorsement and approval of their own newly proposed and/or amended ordinances at either the 1st or 2nd committee reading.

A special citation for Outstanding Policy and Governance Completeness was awarded to the municipality of New Lucena—represented by Hon Liecel Mondejar-Seville, Chairperson for the Committee on Health and Sanitation and former Municipal Mayor, and Dr Ma. Cristina Reala, Municipal Health Officer—in recognition of the successful passage of their newly proposed smoke- and vape-free ordinance in fulfillment of their requirements for the course.

The ceremony also featured student testimonials by three esteemed graduates—Hon Arvin L Losaria, Municipal Vice Mayor of Lambunao, Hon Kirk P Pedrajas, Chairperson for the Committee on Health and Sanitation of Pototan, and Dr Mark Anthony P Celestial, Municipal Health Officer of Concepcion—selected for their active participation and passion throughout the course. Each of them highlighted their key takeaways from the executive course, the significance of their work in advancing stronger health policies, and how they intend to put these lessons into action within their respective municipalities going forward.

To formally close the ceremony, ASOG shared a video message from the School Dean, Dr Jennifer S Oreta, to congratulate the graduates for successfully completing the course. In her message, she highlights the moral and political significance of the work of tobacco control, as it involves not only the technical skills and knowledge to advance stronger health policies, but also the principles of integrity and ethical leadership. She offered words of encouragement, affirmation, and a challenge for all graduates, as now freshly equipped champions of tobacco control, to carry what they’ve learned into their respective roles in local government.

Dean Oreta’s message was followed by some closing remarks by Ms Ma. Cecilia C Agpawa, Program Manager for Transcend. Ms Agpawa synthesizes the highlights of the executive course, and shares some expectations on the extent of support that Transcend will provide as they work in tandem with the LGUs present moving forward from the course.

Finally, Dr Maria Soccoro Quiñon, Provincial Health Officer II, closed the program with a message to the graduates, representing the Provincial Health Office of Iloilo, with congratulations, words of encouragement, and a call to apply their lessons and newly acquired knowledge and skills to action.

About the Leadership and Governance in Tobacco Control Executive Course

The Leadership and Governance in Tobacco Control (LGTC) Executive Course is a four-day, 32-hour training program for local government officials, employees, and key stakeholders. The program strengthens their capacities to lead and institutionalize effective tobacco control measures and health governance practices in their localities.

Building on ASOG’s mission of “forming leaders, leading reforms,” the LGTC integrates frameworks and models of good governance in public health, ensuring that local leaders are equipped with the right mindset, skillset, and tools to champion sustainable reforms.

The second round of the LGTC Executive Course has been implemented in Region VI (Western Visayas) from 8 to 10 October 2025, in partnership with the Provincial Government of Iloilo and Transcending Institutions and Communities, Inc., and concluded with a culminating program and graduation ceremony on 21 November 2025.