Volunteers to advise smokers

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) will deploy its members to the streets on Friday to help the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) enforce a smoking ban in all public places through the metropolis.

However, PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio said their members would not apprehend those caught violating the ban. Instead, they would distribute educational materials and remind smokers about the disadvantages of cigarettes.

“It is the duty of every Filipino to save and protect irreplaceable human lives and we in the private sector, most especially the doctors, must play an active role in any activity that seeks to curb or stop the deadly effects of tobacco smoke on our people,” Tinio said in a statement.

Tinio added that PMA members would also be ready to give advice and information to any person who wants to seek professional help from public and private smoking cessation centers in Metro Manila.

“We view smokers as victims of tobacco addiction who definitely need professional help. A person addicted to an abused substance is not in total control of himself and is always in a state of denial constantly seeking his fix for the day, whenever, wherever and whatever it may cost him,” Tinio said.

The MMDA is set to implement a ban on public smoking in the metropolis starting July 1 following a month-long information drive, during which enforcers merely issued warnings to smokers.