Meralco bans smoking in all company facilities

MANILA, Philippines — To further strengthen the company’s commitment for a healthier and more sustainable environment, Manila Electric Co. recently said smoking, including vaping and using e-cigarettes, will no longer be allowed, effective March 1, in all Meralco facilities and premises.

To ensure complete compliance, the company placed visible signages around all Meralco properties, including former designated smoking areas. Security representatives will be regularly inspecting the said areas as a reinforced compliance check.

Meralco also offers a smoking cessation program for employees interested in quitting smoking, overseen by the company’s internal Corporate Wellness Center and its doctors. Based on data from the World Health Organization, there is an 84 percent increased chance of quitting successfully after being intensively advised by a physician. WHO records show that health benefits of quitting smoking include carbon monoxide levels in blood immediately dropping to normal range after just 12 hours, with long-term effects including the extension of life by up to 10 years for those who quit at an early age.

Meralco president and CEO Ray Espinosa, who launched the company’s Sustainability Office last year, said the smoking ban is being aligned with the company’s recent push for sustainability and inclusivity.

Espinosa further explained the smoking ban’s relevance by saying “While there is much spotlight put on the health benefits for the people, what is often overlooked is smoking’s impact on the environment.”

Aside from the health impacts of environmental tobacco smoke exposure leading to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease and pulmonary disease, WHO data also shows that tobacco smoking leads directly to the emission of 2,600,000 tons of carbon dioxide and about 5,200,000 tons of methane. Cigarette butts are also the most commonly discarded piece of waste globally.

Meralco’s smoking ban was implemented in line with Executive Order No. 26, entitled Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places, which was issued by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, as well as Executive Order No. 106 prohibiting vaping and e-cigarettes in public.