DAVAO CITY, Philippines – June is not just the opening of the school year, but is also No Smoking Month.
Efforts are now made nationwide and in the city to discourage youth from smoking.
Senator Pia Cayetano in a press statement called for stricter enforcement of no-smoking regulations especially in school vicinities.
“We should seize the opportunity to educate more people, especially parents and students, on the hazards of tobacco and smoking,” the senator said.
Cayetano also said that teachers must set themselves as models by refraining from smoking within the school premises.
In Davao City, a smoking ban in public places, establishments particularly in schools have been enforced for the past 23 years.
Violators have dropped for the first quarter of this year, from 1,722 violators last year to 1,423 this year, according to the city’s Vice-Regulating Unit (VRU) acting assistant operations head Jalyn Pareja.
The city’s Revised Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance amended by Ordinance No. 037-19 in 2019 prohibits smoking in public places, government-owned vehicles, entertainment establishments and within 100 meters of schools, playgrounds and areas frequented by minors. Vapes are also included in the prohibition.
The city has set designated smoking areas in public areas in the city which can be found outside of malls and hotels.
Vendors in Davao are also aware of the prohibition of selling cigarettes and vapes as penalties are imposed ranging from fines of 5,000 pesos to suspension of business license.
A cigarette vendor told Davao Today that the smoking ban has affected their sales, and is cautious to sell such items to the youth.
“I do have a few cigarette products but not anyone buys them. No minors or students buy this from me, and besides we keep it secretive because we know it’s illegal,” the 46- year old vendor said who requested his name be withheld.
“The capital we spend on buying cigarettes costs 370 pesos, and we sell each for 50 pesos. We get to sell all of it for 500 pesos and earn 130 from it,” he added.
Nationwide though, there is a trend of turning to vape or electronic cigarette as alternative. An estimated 2.15 of adults aged 15 years and older are e-cigarette users, according to a report in Global Action to End Smoking.
The same study noted that tobacco use was the country’s fourth highest risk factor of deaths and disability.
An article from the Philippine Information Agency shared data from the Philippine Statistics Authority for 2023 and 2024 showing that the top three causes of deaths – heart attacks, cancer, and strokes – are all linked to tobacco use.
The campaign to discourage youth from smoking continues nationwide, including the recent media exhibit and dialogue in Quezon City called “YOU-TH Push Back: Unmasking Tobacco Industry Deception” co-organized by the Child Rights Network and cartoonist Zachary Borromeo aka Cartoonist ZACH.
The dialogue-exhibit is a culmination of a media and communications training program with young advocates, campus journalists, cartoonists, and content creators to strengthen their capacity in countering tobacco industry interference.
“These cartoons and comics break down how the tobacco industry works and how they sell this image and lifestyle to cover up the harm it causes. We wanted to create something that speaks to young people in a way that cuts through the disinformation and ‘less harmful’ narratives, especially around newer products like vapes and e-cigs. Once you see the tactics for what they are, you can’t unsee them and you’ll want to push back,” he said.(davaotoday.com)
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