On World No Tobacco Day: DOH launches smoke-free beaches, parks, tourist destinations campaign

The Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday launched a campaign for smoke-free beaches, parks, and tourist destinations in celebration of the World No Tobacco Day.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III expressed hope that this campaign could further raise awareness and create new areas of impact in the overall effort to ensure the health of Filipinos.

“To further strengthen our campaign against the use of tobacco, we have included this initiative to protect our beaches, parks, and tourist destinations from the environmental ill-effects of this product,” Duque said in a statement.

Duque said the campaign also aims to showcase Boracay, Palawan, Caramoan, and other premiere beach destinations as pilot areas for smoke-free beaches, starting at the Station 2 of Boracay Beach in Aklan on World No Tobacco Day.

In a media briefing, Health Promotion and Communication Service Director Dr. Beverly Ho said that the DOH continues to ask for the veto of the proposed bill that seeks to lower the age of access to vape and e-cigarette products from 21 to 18.

She noted that the Senate Bill (SB) 2239 or the proposed Vaporized Nicotine Products Regulation Act posed risks especially to the Filipino youth.

The department also earlier appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the proposed bill.

The bill provides regulations on the importation, manufacture, sale, packaging, distribution, use, and communication of vape products and novel tobacco products.

Manufacturers, distributors, importers, and sellers will be given an 18-month transitory period from the issuance of the implementing rules and regulations to comply with the requirements of this measure.

This would include the registration of the vape products with the DTI. — LA, GMA News