President Duterte Urged By Anti-Tobacco Group To Sign EO Prohibiting Smoking In Public
President Rodrigo Duterte was urged by an anti-tobacco group to sign an executive order (EO) that will prohibit smokers to smoke in public.
Smoking is one of the major causes of death worldwide. It becomes a habit and tradition for most of the people in the world without looking at the negative effects and danger that cigarette smoking can cause to the body’s health.
Cigarette contains thousands of toxic chemicals that are obviously dangerous to the health. Non-smokers can also be affected by second-hand smoke when they accidentally inhale the smoke coming from smokers. So due to the danger caused by second-hand smoke several groups wanted to implement a smoking ban in public places.
“We appeal to our dear president, who we know is an ardent anti-smoking advocate, to please sign the smoke-free Philippines EO now. Each day of delay would bring your people closer to becoming victims of the ills of smoking like me as well as those who are not even smoking,” said by New Vois Association of the Philippines president Emer Rojas.
Rojas lost his vocal cord because of cancer as a result of chain-smoking during his younger years. Their proposed smoking ban in public places can protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke that is more dangerous that direct smoking.
Filipino youth aging 13 to 15 are the 14.5 percent of Filipino smokers while 23.8 percent of adults are regularly smoking, according to the Tobacco Atlas of 2016. Rojas also explained that this proposal would save a large number of Filipinos from smoking-related diseases, which taking the lives of estimated 240 Filipinos per day.
Republic Act No. 10351 (Sin Tax Law) and Republic Act No. 10643 (Graphic Health Warning Law) are the current existing tobacco control measures. The EO would complement with these measures, according to Rojas.
President Duterte, who has buerger’s disease is willing to sign the EO like what he did in Davao City. Buerger’s disease is a disease obtained through heavy smoking.