Metro Bacolod District Jail warden, Chief Inspector Ruth Estales, recently spoke before students at the Crispino V. Ramos Elementary School, in Bacolod City’s Barangay Taculing, and discussed the dangers of smoking and illegal drugs.

“I urge all you young people to never start smoking and never use illegal drugs,” she stressed.

Jail Officer 1 Ramel Lagos discussed the effects of smoking cigarettes, along with secondhand smoke.

According to the jail official, secondhand smoke is more dangerous than actual smoking.

Last month, the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) implemented more of a focus on city students. In addition, after new Sangguniang Kabataan officials were elected, information, education, and communication campaign activities were intensified; particularly with June being “National No Smoking Month.”

ICAST also placed particular focus enforcing policy that prohibits vaping and the sale of cigarettes within a 100-meter radius of schools, hospitals, public plazas, government buildings and clinics, and laboratories./WDJ