No smoking month observed with awareness campaigns

Over 112,000 Filipinos die from tobacco-related diseases each year, of which about 23 percent are male and 10 percent are female (17.5 percent overall).

Meanwhile, over 20 percent of non-communicable disease-related deaths (ex: ischemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease COPD, lung cancer, etc.) in the Philippines, are attributable to tobacco use. Tobacco use is the leading cause of non-communicable diseases. 

Recognizing the need to raise public awareness on the ill effects of smoking, as well as to encourage smokers to give up the habit, the late President Fidel V. Ramos issued Presidential Proclamation No. 183, s.1993, declaring the month of June as the National No-Smoking Month in the country.

Led by the Department of Health (DOH), the No-Smoking Month encourages smokers to kick the habit.

“The sooner, the better,” the DOH said.

Reaching the grassroots

In line with the celebration of June as the No Smoking Month, HealthJustice Philippines (HJ), Philippine Legislator’s Committee on Population Development (PLCPD), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), and Parents Against Vape (PAV) in partnership with the local government of Casiguran, Sorsogon organized the “Serbisita for Healthy and Smoke-Free Community Medical Mission” for the people of Barangay Sta. Cruz, Casiguran on June 10.

The activity provided medical services, information dissemination of how one can protect the body, especially the lungs, from the harmful effects of cigarette smoking and vaping, and promote smoke-free community in Casiguran, Sorsogon. 

Serbisita (Serbisyo Asin Tabang) is coined from two Bicol words “Serbisyo” and “Bisita,” which are translated as “Service” and “Visit.” As an acronym, it also forms as “Serbisyo” and “Tabang,” another Bicol word, is translated as “Aid or Assistance.”

In her opening speech, Casiguran Mayor Minez Hamor recognized the urgent need to kick harmful habits to promote healthy citizenry. She also recognized the efforts of nongovernment organizations in promoting healthy lifestyle and pushing for smoke-free environment. 

Trixie Sia, Board Member of Parents Against Vape, who was the prime mover of the activity, noted the changing behavior of Filipinos with regards to smoking and raised the alarm on the growing number of Filipinos, especially the youth, who are into vaping. 

Vape users

The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR) in 2021 estimated around 82 million vape users globally, according to an article issued by the National Nutrition Council.  

“While smoking prevalence has decreased to 19.5 percent in 2021 according to Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2.7 million Filipinos, or around three percent of the world’s vape users, are among these figures as of 2021. Both the numbers and the number of health conditions linked to vaping continue to rise, according to National Nutrition Council,” Sia noted. 

Mardy Halcon, country coordinator for Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, said that the dramatic drop in tobacco use of Filipinos as reflected in the recent Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS)—from 23.8 percent in 2015 to 19.5 percent in 2021—proves that the Philippine government’s strong tobacco control measures are working.

“While the results of the 2021 GATS underscore the immense progress the Philippines has made, the Marcos government must not waiver in its commitment to address the immeasurable harm of tobacco use. As such, the government must continue and sustain the implementation of other proven measures to reduce tobacco use. Among these are: enacting further increases in tobacco tax, institutionalizing the smoke-free policy, strictly regulating vaping and e-cigarette products, and strengthening the restrictions on warning labels on tobacco products and tobacco advertising,” Halcon reiterated.

Protection vs secondhand smoke

Meanwhile, HealthJustice’s Program Coordinator Judy Delos Reyes, noted that more Filipinos are now protected against the dangers of secondhand smoke because of a nationwide ban on smoking in public places. 

“Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 26 which promoted a nationwide smoke-free policy in public places considerably contributed to the decline on the exposure to secondhand smoke in public places,” he said.

Apart from medical services that included free circumcision, doctors’ consultation, and dental hygiene, the group also conducted learning sessions on smoke-free advocacy. This was attended by most of the more than 700 youth and adults who availed of the services. A concurrent activity on poster making was also conducted for children and youth. 

“Serbisita” was also supported by various government agencies and universities across the Province of Sorsogon and Legazpi City: Casiguran Rural Health Unit, Barangay Health Workers, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 5, Integrated Bar of the Philippines, Bicol University, Regional Medical and Dental Unit 5, and 24-31ST Infantry (Charge) Battalion 9th Infantry (Spear) Division, Philippine Army.

More than 714 individuals, adults and children from Barangay Sta. Cruz benefited during the medical mission. Free medicines and hygiene kits were distributed.

Published by: BusinessMirror Philippines: Claudette Mocon-Ciriaco