The Department of Education (DepEd) recently announced they would be taking their EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo project, an initiative intended to strengthen DepEd’s tobacco control policy, nationwide starting in the upcoming 2018-2019 academic year.

“The EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo Project ends its pilot-testing phase and its components will be adapted by DepEd for rollout nationwide,” affirmed DepEd Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Alberto Muyot, who serves as project director.

Among the area where the program was piloted include Pasig City and Makati City; along with Batangas, Bulacan, Bataan, and Pampanga.

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.

The policy also requires all students and staff be educated on the hazards of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke./WDJ