BRIEF LGU PROFILE

The municipality of Amlan is one of the nineteenth municipalities and

six cities of the province of Negros Oriental. This is situated on the Eastern
Coast of Negros Island bounded on the East by Taon Strait, on the West by
the City of Tanjay and Sibulan, on the South by San Jose, and on the North by
Tanjay City. The town, which has eight barangays, lies within the geographic
polar coordinates between 12306 and 123 15 east longitude and
0920 north latitude.
The town can be reached through a well-paved national road in 30
minutes from Dumagute City- the capital of Negros Oriental. It can also be
accessed from Cebu and other provinces through the Tandayag Wharf as the
southern part of the town where ferry boats for inter-island transfer are
available from morning until afternoon.
Generally, Amlan is an agricultural town given that 55% of the total
land area of 6,604 hectares id devote to agriculture. The common source of
income in the locality is through crop productions and livestock raising. While
fishing is the main livelihood of most people in the coastal areas.
The towns main industry consists of small-scale micro-enterprises
(sari-sari stores, eatery, welding shops, fish and vegetable vendors) and few
small-medium business that include beach resorts and cottages, gasolinerefilling stations, pawnshops, rural bank, bakeries, grocery and general
merchandise stores.
On the other hand, Amlan also have notable industries, such as the oil
depots of Chevron Philippines, Shell Philippines and Petron, National Grid
Corporation Philippines (NGCP) Sub-Station at Barangay Tandayag, and
NAPOCOR multi-million Hydroelectric Plant at Pasalan Fall, Barangay Silab.
Meanwhile, Amlan has noted a number of non-government
organizations such as KSAAI, PATULAKAS, Federation of Amlan Bantay-Dagat,
Amlan Multi-Purpose Agricultural Cooperative, Christian Foundation for the
Deaf and Blind, Inc., Gender Watch Against Violence and Exploitation,
Municipal Fishery and Aquatic Resource Management Council, Bio-os Takot
Diot Association and Tandayag Marine Reserve Management Council.
The town is known for its fine beaches, resorts and cottages. The more
popular beachfronts are the Paradise Beach Resort, Escosas Bar and Rsort,
Blue Water Resort, D Cottage Bar and Resort, La Boca Beach Resort,
Hayahay Beach and Lovel Beach, aside from the Rock Mountain Resort and
with its natural spring water swimming pool at Barangay Tambojangin the
favorite destinations of local tourists.
Since the launching of Diversified Resources for an Ecological AMLAN
Development (DREAMLAND) Project, which aims to enhance economic
development, social and environmental awareness, somehow Amlan will
realize its Vision.

SMOKE-FREE DREAMLAND
Amlan, Negros Oriental
Rationale:
A stick or two of his favorite cigarette was enjoyed every minute by
Sangguniang Bayan Member (Konsehal) Edmund Remollo Tubac, whether at
work or at home. For forty years, he was so addicted to smoking that he
cloud not even last through the half day session held once a week by the
Sangguniang Bayan of Amlan, Negros Oriental without going out of the airconditioned room to smoke.
Little did he knew, that his life was bound to change on July 6, 2008the day he was rushed to Silliman University Medical Center. Konsehal Tubac
has his 3rd heart attack and with each painful breath, he fought for his life as
the ambulance ran through more than 20 kms. to get to Dumagute City,
where the said hospital was located.
But his journey did not end there. He was advised by his Physician, Dr.
Silahis Oliver Rosario to undergo Angiogram to determine the extent of
damage in his heart. After the angiogram, it was found out that four (4) veins
in his heart were blocked and could no longer function properly which made
his breathing hard, numb his left arm and hurt his chest. As a result, a
quadruple bypass operation was performed at the Philippine Heart Center,
Quezon City. The said bypass could guarantee him 10-15 years of life.
However, one stick of cigarette can spell the difference between life and
death.
July 6 became the turning point of his life or to be more specific, the
start of his long and painful battle against nicotine addiction. More than a
year since that life-threatening incident, Konsehal Tubac was already at the
forefront of the fight against cigarette smoking and the deceptive marketing
tool of tobacco companies, public places, enclosed or partially enclosed,
working spaces and public conveyances. Although the ordinance provides a
space for those who would prefer not to fight their nicotine addiction, it also
makes unlawful for anyone to some in areas where they can harm those who
opt to live a smoke-free life and wanted to breath fresh air. Repeat violators
can be fined and imprisonment for endangering the lives of people who do
not smoke.
The Ordinance is not so much of a call for smokers to quit but it could
do so much for the next generation. It aims for the protection of children and
non-smokers from second hand smoke and the evils of cigarette smoking. To
those who smoke, the message is QUIT OR DIE and to those dont, it simply
says dont start because you may not be able to stop until its too late.
Te measure was passed unanimously and was approved for
implementation by Mayor Bentham P. de la Cruz. The Mayor himself is no
stranger to the ill effects of smoking having lost his brother, Oscar Bobong
de la Cruz and father, the late Mayor Vic de la Cruz to lung illness. A week
later after the bypass operation of Konsehal Tubac, Mrs. Senecia Reynado,

the wife of Konsehal Melvyn Reynado was also admitted at the Philippine
Heart Center and underwent Angioplasty.
Last July 17, 2009, Mayor Bentham de la Cruz, Vice Mayor Carmen Tan
and Konsehal Tubac, along with the Sangguniang Bayan Members and more
than a thousand government officials, students and residents marched for
three kilometers to launched the Ordinance and declare Amlan a Smoke-Free
Municipality.
Smoking in the Philippines is among the highest in the world today
affecting young and old, male and female alike. Tobacco use is the second
major cause of death in the world and is currently responsible for the death
of one in ten adults, which is about 5 M deaths each year, a number that will
double by year 2020 if nothing is done. It is also a fact that hundreds of
thousands of people who have never smoked die each year for illness related
to inhalation of other peoples smoke. The increasing incidence impact on
the health expenditure to tobacco smoke demands greater protection of
smokers and non smokers. Article 8 of the WHO Framework requires the total
elimination of smoking and tobacco smoke in a particular space or
environment in order to create a 100% smoke-free environment. There is no
safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke and the only effective way to
protect the population from the harmful effects of exposure to second hand
smoke (SHS), is the adaptation/implementation of the smoke-free ordinance.
Honorable Edmund Tubac, the living example of the ill effects of
smoking is the primary proponent of the Amlan Municipal Ordinance No. 3
Series of 2009 which prohibits smoking of tobacco products in enclosed or
partially enclosed public places, public outdoor spaces, workplaces and
public conveyance in the municipality of Amlan, Negros Oriental.
WHEREAS, the 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines declares
that the State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and
instill health consciousness among them;
WHEREAS the Republic of the Philippines, under the Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control (FCTC) to which the party, determined to give priority to
the right to protect public health and to promote measures of tobacco control
based on current and relevant scientific, technical and economic
considerations and agreed to implement the measures provided in the
treaty;
WHEREAS the Local Government Code of 1991 (Republic Act No. 7160)
accords every local government unit power and authority to promote the
general welfare within its territorial jurisdiction, including the promotion of
health and safety of its constituents;
At this juncture, the Local Government of Amlan, adapted/ implemented the
100% Smoke-Free Ordinance in order to protect the deliberating effect of
cigarette smoking both the first hand and the second hand smokers.
Since the launching of the Smoke-Free Ordinance last July 17, 2009, AMLAN
has piloted several best practices that had instituted a lifestyle change to all
smokers. The concept and ideas being introduced in several best practices
will help and encourage people to change and improve their health
condition.

HON. BENTHAM P. DE LA CRIUZ

Municipal Mayor