By: Flor Jackson
NAVAL, BILIRAN – In order to highlight the campaign for a smoke-free municipality of Naval, the Biliran Medical Society (BMS), an organization composed of medical professional in the province of Biliran in coordination with the local government unit (LGU) of Naval will spearhead a two-kilometer fun run dubbed as “Dagan Kontra sa Tabako”.
This was learned from Dr. Dusman Oliver, Board Member of BMS during the Kapihan at Pulong-pulong ng Bayan live at Radyo Natin-Naval.
Dr. Oliver is inviting running enthusiasts in the municipality of Naval to support the activity.
The two-kilometer fun run is scheduled on March 20, 2010 at 8:00 o’clock in the morning.
He informed that “Dagan Kontra sa Tabako” is an activity organized by the medical doctors in Biliran province in support to the campaign for a smoke-free municipality of Naval.
“I am expecting that many participants will join in the fun run because Navaleños love to run, jog and walk early in the morning as one form of exercise and a way to keep the body healthy and fit”, he said.
He added that a registration fee of P200 per participant is required and the first 100 participants to register for the fun run will get a free t-shirt from the BMS.
Proceeds of the fun run, he said, will be used to cover expenses for the production of tarpaulin advertisements on anti-smoking to be posted in strategic places all over the municipality of Naval especially in public places.
Dr. Oliver added that the BMS is much concerned of the health of the residents not only in Naval town, the capital of Biliran province but the entire province.
“As health workers, we want to promote a healthy community and environment and we strongly campaign for a smoke-free Biliran”, he said further.
BMS supports municipal Ordinance No. 03-2010 or the Smoke-Free Ordinance of the Municipality of Naval which was signed by Mayor Susan Parilla in December last year.
The proponent of the ordinance is Naval Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Member Gabino Velasquez IV who is a medical doctor by profession and Chairman of the Committee on Health of SB Naval.
Dr. Oliver gave a piece of advice to smokers to quit smoking before they get sick. And for those who have not smoked yet, he told them not to try smoking because the habit will not bring any good to their health.
“Healthy people in the community and in the province move the area to development, thereby improving the lives of everyone”, he said. (PIA-Biliran)
