Bontoc celebrates foursome July
BONTOC, Mountain Province – Thousands of residents paraded along the thoroughfares of the capital town holding placards, slogans and posters promoting nutrition, disaster resiliency and responsible family planning; at the same time leading the campaign against smoking and chewing of betel nut on July 13.
Dubbed as “Bontoc Celebrates Foursome July”, the Bontoc Municipal Government through its Municipal Health Office (MHO) / Rural Health Unit (RHU) led the observance of the Nutrition Month; National Disaster Resiliency Month; World Population Day and AntiSmoking and Momma Campaign.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey urged those in attendance especially the students to be advocates in promoting nutrition and healthy lifestyle, and disaster preparedness inside their homes and in their communities.
Odsey also challenged the youth to be the partners of the government in the campaign against smoking and chewing of betel nut by not engaging to such, at the same time sharing the negative effects of these to families, relatives and friends.
“As the father of the municipality, I only want what is best to all of you as you are all my children. It is my fervent hope that we have a healthy and disasterresilient community. We can achieve this, if we do our part for our Bontoc ay Kalalaychan,” the mayor added.
With this year’s theme “Ugaliing Magtanim, Sapat na Nutrisyon Aanihin” in celebration of the Nutrition Month, Provincial Nutritionist Dietitian Mary Dianne Saongen encouraged especially the students to start planting and growing their own vegetables at home and at their gardens.
She remarked that there are sufficient vegetables, crops and fruits that are available and can thrive in the locality which everyone can plant in their gardens.
“Growing our own garden helps us in our grocery bills. It is also a means of exercise and the enjoyment of harvesting good-tasting produce because of the effort it took to get to the table,”Saong added.
In observance of the World Population Day with the theme “Family Planning is a Human Right”, Population Program Officer V Shirley Chiyawan advised the students to focus on their studies and say “no” to early sex as it will result to unintended and unwanted pregnancies.
Bannering the theme “Katatagan sa Kalamidad ay Makakamtan Kung Sapat ang Kaalaman sa Kahandaan” in observance of the National Disaster Resiliency Month, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Johanna Padaen reiterated her call to the public to actively participate in the information education and communication (IEC) campaign and take seriously the earthquake drills being conducted quarterly in order to be prepared and know what to do in occurrence of an earthquake.
She added the conduct of IEC, earthquake drills and training of emergency responders are some of the avenues in building a resilient community.
On the Anti- Smoking and Momma Campaign with the theme “Tigilan na ang Paninigarilyo at Pagngunguya ng Momma”, an official of the capital town even stepped-up and shared to the audience his experience of being a smoker and how he quitted the habit.
Councilor Atty. Alsannyste Patingan informed the audience of the Anti- Smoking Ordinance of Bontoc, prohibiting smoking of any tobacco product, electronic device and sisha.
The ordinance prohibits smoking in public conveyances, government –owned vehicles, accommodation and entertainment establishments, work places, enclosed or partially enclosed public places, public buildings, and public outdoor spaces.
Violators of the ordinance can be fined P1, 000.00 or one-month imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court for the first offense; P1, 500.00 or two- month imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court for the second offense; and P2, 000.00 or fourmonth imprisonment or both at the discretion of the court for the third and succeeding offenses.
The ordinance will be fully enforced once No Smoking signages will be posted in the vicinities of Bontoc.