Go after all polluting smokers, MMDA urged

Health Secretary Enrique Ona proposed on Saturday that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) focus on fighting pollution as a whole, particularly against smoke belching vehicles, instead of concentrating on cigarette smokers.

At a press conference Saturday, Ona maintained that he does not consider MMDA’s clean air campaign wanting but would suggest that the agency do more for the crusade.

He pointed out that carbon monoxide emitted by vehicles was more dangerous to health. “We have to look at the big picture and address pollution as a whole,” he said.

He nevertheless commended MMDA’s smoke-free campaign for its goal of improving the health of Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and some 500 people from various sectors participated on Saturday in a solidarity run at the Quezon Memorial Circle against tobacco.

PMA president Dr. Oscar Tinio said his group was batting for a “truly smoke-free Philippines.” “It is an irrefutable fact that cigarettes cause health deterioration and more devastatingly, death in one of every two of its users,” he said.

The activity was led by activist priest Fr. Robert Reyes, retired General Danilo Lim and volunteers carrying on stretchers laryngeal cancer survivors belonging to the New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP), who blamed their plight on their addiction to smoking.

“We will continue to work together in protecting our people from the clear and present danger tobacco brings. We also request for our government’s unwavering commitment to champion smoke-free policies and to prevent the tobacco industry from interfering in our efforts to ensure public health. ” Tinio said.

The World Health Organization estimates that a Filipino dies of tobacco-related disease every six minutes, making it an alarming public health crisis. Seven out of 10 primary causes of death in the country—stroke, cancer, heart attacks, tuberculosis, chronic lower respiratory disease, pneumonia, and diseases that occur around childbirth—are tobacco-related diseases.

Two weeks ago, the PMA proposed the establishment of smoke cessation units in hospitals around the country but this was shot down yesterday by Ona, who pointed out that quitting smoking should be a “private initiative.”