Baguio City has once again captured global recognition—this time for its outstanding leadership in promoting a smoke-free environment. The city was named one of the recipients of the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Award for Global Tobacco Control, affirming its dedication to building a healthier, cleaner, and more resilient community.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong accepted the award during the World Conference on Tobacco Control held in Dublin, Ireland on June 23. “This honor reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting public health through evidence-based policies and strong partnerships. Together, we have created a community-driven surveillance and education model that upholds every citizen's right to breathe clean air,” Magalong stated.
Baguio joins awardees from around the world, including India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ukraine’s Committee on Public Health, and organizations from Mexico, Mauritius, and Montenegro. The annual award celebrates cities and institutions that demonstrate outstanding progress in implementing proven tobacco control policies.
A Community-Led Approach to Clean Air
What sets Baguio apart is its people-first strategy. Through strong collaborations with medical schools, private sector groups, and civil society, the city has built a locally grounded model that combines education, real-time monitoring, and enforcement.
The city’s smoke-free efforts are supported by a public-private surveillance system that tracks tobacco use and compliance. This system empowers communities to take an active role in upholding smoke-free laws, making health protection a shared mission.
Building on a Track Record of Public Health Leadership
The Bloomberg award is the latest milestone in Baguio’s journey as a leader in public health. In 2021, the city also received the Healthy Cities Award from the World Health Organization for its commitment to enforcing smoke-free laws under the category “Sharing Clean Air.”
Despite a global decline in smoking—from 22.8% in 2007 to 16.4% in 2023—more than one billion people continue to smoke, and tobacco-related illnesses remain a leading cause of preventable death. Bloomberg Philanthropies founder Michael Bloomberg highlighted that strong, evidence-based policies like those in Baguio are saving millions of lives.
"As we gather with global leaders in Dublin, we reaffirm our dedication to a tobacco-free future—not only for Baguio, but for all cities working toward health, equity, and sustainable development," Magalong said.
