NINE OUT of 10 adult Filipinos agree that smoking or the use of cigarettes in public places should be prohibited. This is according to the results of a national survey on smoking conducted by Pulse Asia from Jan. 26 to 31, 2019.
The nationwide survey also reveals that nine out of 10 Filipinos agree that the minimum age of those allowed to buy and use cigarettes should be raised from 18 to 25 years old.
The results of this survey show that the public is very open and receptive to essential legislative reforms that can be done as regards tobacco control. May this piece of information have a deep impact on candidates for the 2019 midterm polls for them to resolutely pursue measures that will contribute to a smoke-free Philippines.
The Pulse Asia survey also reveals that while almost eight out of 10 Filipinos (76 percent) aged 18 years and above say they do not use tobacco, with 62 percent saying they never used tobacco in their life, almost one in four Filipinos aged 18 years and above (24 percent) use tobacco, with 19 percent saying they are daily tobacco smokers.
These figures show how deep the smoking problem is rooted in Philippine society. Despite recent strides to control tobacco use, we still have a long way to go. That is why there is a need to step up the campaign against smoking in time for the election season, with the specific goal of making this issue be at the forefront of debates and garner support from incoming elected officials towards crafting and enacting stricter laws on tobacco control.
Tobacco use is a burden on Filipino health. Clearly, policy reforms are needed. For example, amend the current Tobacco Regulation Act to expand the definition of places where smoking is banned; raise the minimum age for buying and using cigarettes from 18 to 25 years old; and increase the tax imposed on tobacco products by at least P60 to make cigarette prices prohibitive and to generate revenue to support the government’s universal healthcare program.
And this is why it is important to talk about tobacco control during the election period. This period is what we call the “noon” for public clamor; we know that candidates running for public office are most receptive to public opinion during this period. Advocates need to sound the alarm on tobacco use even louder.
We also hope that voters will consider important issues such as health in making the important decision of choosing whom to vote. May this pressing public health issue penetrate into the national conversation and compel our next legislators and government officials to act.
