The Department of Education-Division of Bacolod (DepEd-Bacolod) recently held their  DepED Education Summit at SMX Convention Center at SM City Bacolod, which saw around 400 individuals attend.

Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia delivered the opening address before principals, teachers, and student leaders.

The event sought to address issues surrounding education services and to strengthen support for DepEd-Bacolod initiatives.

Earlier this year, the national DepEd announced they would be taking their EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo project, an initiative intended to strengthen DepEd’s tobacco control policy, nationwide.

The policy is based on DepEd Order 48, signed by then-DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, which lays out policies on tobacco controls in schools.

The order mandates an absolute smoking ban in schools and offices, prohibits sponsorships and outdoor advertising by tobacco companies, among other restrictions./WDJ