BALANGA CITY, Bataan, Philippines — In support to Mayor Joet S. Garcia’s drive for a smoke-free Balanga City, Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) President Benjie Meriño reported that the 25 barangays here are intensifying their drive against smoking.

During the recent symposium among barangay captains and other officials held right in his barangay Cataning, Merino urged his fellow barangay leaders to fully implement in their respective barangay the anti-smoking ordinances.

Prior to the passing of the city’s Anti-smoking ordinance, Merino said that all the 25 barangays of Balanga had each come up with an ordinance against smoking in public places.

Only recently, Barangay Cataning, through the leadership of Merino, was given reward of P2-million cash for being Balanga City’s “Pinakatatanging Barangay” in 2011 due to its various development and environment programs in the barangay.