Summary of a case study published in 2019
In 2008 Balanga City’s Mayor – Jose Enrique S. Garcia III – successfully introduced a ban on tobacco products in all public places and public utility vehicles in the city’s University Town area. The city also launched a tobacco-free program called YOYO Balanga (“No to cigarettes in Balanga”). The following year, the City Health Office spearheaded the “Teaming Up for a Smoke-Free Balanga City” program in 2009 in collaboration with stakeholders to carry out information drives against smoking.
However, in 2010 the City Health Office conducted a study on tobacco prevalence using the WHO Global Adult Tobacco Survey tools, and found that while 23.8% of the residents smoked – below the 28.3% national rate – there was still room for improvement. In response, in 2010 the city council passed a Comprehensive No-Smoking Ordinance and declared 31 May as “The City of Balanga’s No Tobacco Day”. The city also initiated a “Tobacco-Free Generation” campaign in order to eliminate tobacco smoking among those born after 2000.
In 2013, Mayor Garcia then wrote to neighboring municipalities to request a halt to “blitzkrieg promotional activities” conducted near city borders by the tobacco industry. In 2014, the city launched a campaign to promote healthy lifestyles during adolescence, including not smoking tobacco. And for the 2015 World No Smoking Month, the city launched a campaign entitled “I love my family, Say no to Cigarettes”, which saw young people promoting smoke-free homes by writing letters to relatives to encourage them to quit smoking.
In 2016, the city council expanded the coverage of Balanga City’s smoke-free ban to cover a further 3 km radius. The ultimate goal was to prohibit all sales, distribution, use, and advertising or promotion of tobacco and tobacco products, including ENDS (such as e-cigarettes). A Smoke-Free Task Force was also created to support enforcement of the law.
Unsurprisingly, the city’s actions also received heavy opposition from the tobacco industry. In 2017 the Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) challenged both Balanga City’s 2010 ordinance and its 2016 amendment. Unfortunately, a decision from a Regional Trial Court was issued in favour of the industry. A further legal challenge was then filed by PTI in 2018 against the city’s 2016 Tobacco Free Generation Ordinance banning the sale of tobacco products to citizens born after 2000.
Despite industry opposition, the city’s efforts paid off. A survey showed a decline in adult smoking from 23.8% in 2010 to 14.78% in 2014 and a decline in the prevalence of youth smoking from 32% in 2014 to just 1.63% the following year. There was also a 74% growth in business and a 75.7% increase in tourist arrivals from 2010 to 2017. Since 2012, 22 local government units and three universities have learned from Balanga City’s example and similar ordinances have been adopted by other municipalities.
Overall, the City’s anti-tobacco efforts have been very popular. Mayor Garcia won re-election twice, showing that a strong stance on tobacco control can be a positive asset for local leaders.