Bill for graphic pictures on cigarette packs gains ground

MANILA, Philippines—Just a day after it was approved by the health committee in the House of Representatives, the bill seeking to put graphic health warnings on cigarette packs was also given the green light by the appropriations committee on Wednesday.

The committee chaired by Davao Representative Isidro Ungab approved the measure that seeks to require cigarette manufacturers and importers to print graphic pictures and textual warnings on the hazards of smoking in the cigarette package.
The bills hurdled the committee after a deal was settled to put the space for graphic warnings at 40 percent of the display area.

On Wednesday’s hearing, Biliran Representative Rogelio Espina represented health committee chair Rep. Eufranio Eriguel as saying picture-based warnings are effective in curbing the prevalence of smoking.

“Picture-based health warnings have been found to be highly effective, especially among the youth in motivating smokers to quit, and encouraging non-smokers not to start smoking,” Espina told lawmakers in the committee.

“The need to adopt effective tobacco control has long been overdue,” he added.

The proposed measure wants graphic pictures to take up as much as 85 percent of the display area of the cigarette package.

But tobacco manufacturers denounced the provision, saying it wants graphic warnings to take up only 30 percent.

Eventually, panel members and tobacco manufacturers agreed that pictures should take up 40 percent of the space.

The bill is expected to be passed on third and final reading next week or before the House takes its break, one of the bill’s authors Akbayan Rep. Barry Gutierrez has said.

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