Nine of ten Pinoys back smoking ban in public places —Pulse Asia

Majority of Filipinos want smoking cigarettes to be banned in public areas, a commissioned Pulse Asia survey has shown.

According to the survey commissioned by the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD), nine out of ten Filipinos agree that the use of cigarettes in public places should be banned.

The survey also bared that 90 percent of Filipinos want to increase the minimum age of those allowed to buy and use cigarettes from 18 to 25-year-old.

"The results of this survey show that the Filipino public is very open and receptive to essential legislative reforms that can be done as regards tobacco control,” PLCPD Executive Director Romeo Dongeto said.

"Evidence of overwhelming public support for these amendments is here. Nine out of 10 Filipinos agree to stricter tobacco control laws. 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 survey also bared that almost one in four Filipinos (24 percent), aged 18-years-old and above, used tobacco, with 19 percent saying that they are daily tobacco smokers.

On the other hand, 76 percent do not use tobacco, with 62 percent saying that they 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,” Dongeto said.

The said survey was conducted by Pulse Asia from January 26 to 31.

It was in 2017 when President Rodrigo Duterte had inked an executive order on smoking ban nationwide: Executive Order No. 26 titled “Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places."

DOH backs smoking ban

The Department of Health as expected supports banning smoking in public places.

“Before the age of 25, hindi pa fully developed yung ating utak,” Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo told GMA News. “At 18 to 25, prone pa na maging addict ang isang tao to substances like nicontine.”

Domingo also warned about the dangers of secondhand smoke, saying nonsmokers are also prone to illnesses that smokers may contract such as heart and lung diseases, high blood pressure and stroke.

“Talagang sa lahat dapat na lugar na may malalanghap ang isang tao na di naman naninigarilyo, dapat bawal ito,” Domingo said. “Wala tayong karapatan kung naninigarilyo tayo na mapinsala ang ibang tao na ang choice naman ay hindi manigarilyo.” —with Tina Panganiban-Perez/NB, GMA News