9 of 10 Filipinos want smoking in public places prohibited — Pulse Asia

MANILA, Philippines — Nine out of 10 adult Filipinos nationwide agree that smoking in public places should be prohibited, a recent commissioned Pulse Asia survey revealed.

A Pulse Asia “Ulat ng Bayan” survey, commissioned by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), showed that 91 percent of the respondents agree with prohibiting the use of cigarettes or smoking in public places, while four percent disagreed.

However, the survey noted that even though lower, 80 percent of current smokers agree that smoking should not be allowed on public places.

Meanwhile, most Filipinos or 90 percent also agreed to increase the minimum age for buying cigarettes from 18 to 25 years old, the survey showed.

However, only 80 percent of current Filipino workers agreed to increase the minimum age of purchasing cigarettes.

1 in 4 Filipinos are smokers

The Pulse Asia survey also found that almost one in four Filipinos or 24 percent from 18 years old and above (24%) use tobacco, with 19 percent admitting they smoke tobacco daily.

Among the current smokers, 23 percent revealed that they smoke at least 10 sticks of cigarettes a day, while 17 percent smoke five sticks, 13 percent smoke one pack, and 10 percent smoke at least three sticks daily.

However, it also revealed that eight out of 10 Filipinos or 76 percent from 18 years old and above said they do not use tobacco, with 62 percent admitting they have never used tobacco in their life.

“These figures show how deep the smoking problem is rooted in Philippine society. Despite recent strides our nation has taken to control tobacco use, we still have a long way to go,” PLCPD Executive Director Romeo Dongeto said in a statement.

The PLCPD, through an electoral campaign, urged 2019 candidates to support moves to to amend the current Tobacco Regulation Act or Republic Act No. 9211, to expand places where smoking is banned and raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes, and to increase tax imposed on tobacco products.

“Evidence of overwhelming public support for these amendments is here. Nine out of 10 Filipinos agree to stricter tobacco control laws,” Dongeto said.

“May this pressing public health issue deeply penetrate into the national conversation and compel our next legislators and government officials to act,” he added.

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted from January 16 to 31, where 1,800 Filipino adults were interviewed with an sampling error margin of +_2.3  /je