Tutors told: Be antismoking advocates

The Department of Health has urged teachers to warn their students of the dangers of smoking as classes in elementary and high school open this month, which is National No-Smoking Month.

“Teachers should be role models for their students and they should remind the youth of the hazards of smoking,” said Health Secretary Janette Garin, citing the worsening habit, especially among the youth.

Garin was referring to the 2014 first quarter report of the Social Weather Stations which showed that nine in 10 or about 90 percent of smokers light up daily, smoking 10 sticks a day.

She also cited the 2009 Philippine Global Adult Tobacco Survey, which reported that 28.3 percent or about 17.3 million of the population aged 15 and over had picked up the bad habit.

Earlier, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines, an antismoking advocate, pointed out that the Philippines had the second highest prevalence rate of smoking among the youth—between 20 to 29.9 percent—based on the 2011 Global Youth Tobacco Survey.

That survey showed that the prevalence of students who smoke was at 13.7 percent, said the group.

To curb smoking among the youth, Garin also ordered schools, particularly universities and colleges, to strictly implement a 100-percent smoke-free environment.

She noted that Section 10 of Republic Act No. 9211, or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, strictly prohibits the sale of tobacco products 100 meters from the perimeter of a school or any public place frequented by minors. The law also bars ambulant vendors and stores around schools from selling cigarettes.

“With an estimated 10 Filipinos dying every hour due to [tobacco-related] diseases, it is wise never to start the addictive habit of smoking,” said Garin.