FIRST ON RADAR: Strong anti-smoking measures earn honors for Baguio, Pasig from ASEAN body

Baguio is sole Gold awardee in SEA, Pasig wins Bronze.

Baguio City and Pasig City earned awards from a Southeast Asian body recognizing efforts to curb tobacco usage, with both cities gaining recognition for strong anti-smoking measures and consistent law enforcement.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations presented the two cities with the ASEAN Smoke-free Award on the first day of the 17th ASEAN Health Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on September 10.

Baguio City was the sole Gold awardee among all participating cities after undergoing “a rigorous screening process,” according to the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance.

SEATCA and ASEAN cited the Smoke-free Baguio Ordinance as one of the Philippines’ most comprehensive local tobacco control initiatives. Since passing the ordinance in May 2017, the city has banned the sale of tobacco products, prohibited indoor smoking in public areas, and pursued partnerships with various groups and agencies to educate the public.

In May, Baguio was also the sole Philippine city recognized by the World Health Organization as a regional leader in tobacco control as part of the commemoration of World No Tobacco Day 2026.

Pasig City, meanwhile, was one of five Bronze awardees. The ASEAN body commended the city for having a dedicated Tobacco Control Office, as well as treating tobacco control as an environmental matter through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office.

The city passed a comprehensive anti-smoking ordinance in 2025 regulating the sale, advertisement, promotion, and sponsorship of tobacco products. The city also bans smoking and vaping in public areas, enclosed areas, and mass transit.

The other awardees were George Town, Malaysia, which received Silver, and Bronze awardees Depok City, Indonesia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Thanbyuzayat, Myanmar; and Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

The awards are worth applauding, as are the cities’ efforts to put stronger tobacco controls in place. But the situation on the ground is hardly picture-perfect. Smoking remains common in places where it is prohibited, with some violators seemingly able to walk away without facing penalties.

The awards were judged on 11 key elements, namely: smoke-free policies, a task force, organizational support, political will, strategies, monitoring and mass media, outdoor advertisements, key messages, implementation, rejection of tobacco industry interference, and government support.

The 2026 edition is the second-ever edition of the ASEAN Smoke-free Awards. During the first awarding in 2024, Iloilo City bagged the sole Gold award for similarly implementing comprehensive anti-tobacco measures.

The recognition shows what cities can put in place through policy and enforcement. But for those rules to mean much in everyday life, they also have to be enforced consistently on the streets.