The Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) recently established the Smoking Cessation Clinic in order to encourage local smokers to quit the habit.

According to clinic head, Dr. Roland Jay Fortuna, patients undergo counseling and, if necessary, will be provided medicine.

He added, they are still awaiting the approval of a pharmacology budget.

The clinic, located on the second floor of Iloilo City Hall, is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Fortuna noted, 15 people have already quit with assistance from the clinic.

Last month, the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) implemented more of a focus on city students.

Between January and May 2018, a total of 3,103 individuals were apprehended in Iloilo City due to smoking violations. Among the offenders, 244 were students with the youngest being 16 years old./WDJ