The Department of Education (DepEd) recently posted a reminder on social media of their observance of “National No Smoking Month.” The observance, created through President Proclamation No. 183, which was signed in 1993 by then-President Fidel V. Ramos, requires schools to prohibit smoking on premises, disallow the sale and advertising of tobacco products within a 100-meter perimeter, and refuse sponsorship from entities associated with the tobacco industry.
According to DepEd Memorandum No. 70, schools are also required to conduct education and information drives to raise awareness about the harms of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.
Bacolod City health advocates recently spoke before University of Negros Occidental-Recoletos students to discuss the dangers of secondhand smoke. A Philippine Information Agency-Region VI release defines secondhand smoke as the “smoke that originates from lighted cigarettes breathed out by smokers.”
“It’s not enough that we don’t smoke, it is also important and we have to remember that secondhand smoke can also kill us,” explained Bacolod CHO non-communicable diseases cluster head, Dr. Ava Joy Infante.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Health Office (CHO) recently called on the smoking public to kick the habit.
“Smoking has no benefit to the body,” explained city health officer, Dr. Bernard Caspe. “You will just get various diseases or cancer from head to foot.”
In addition, CHO has been lobbying the Iloilo City Council to mandate hiring policies that prefer non-smokers.
“We want to have preference [for] non-smokers when choosing employees,” Caspe affirmed. “Maybe those who smoke should undergo our counseling and cessation clinic.”/WDJ