Even with the existence of the Tobacco Regulation Act, nationwide implementation is weak because most legislators are reportedly smokers themselves.
Judita Tawatao, regional coordinator of the Degenerative Diseases Control Program of the Department of Health, admitted that the weak implementation of Republic Act 9211, otherwise known as the Tobacco Regulation Act, stems from the fact that support for stronger mandate of the Act is nearly not received because of smoking lawmakers.
She also confirmed that no one yet has been penalized for violating the Act because of the lack of enforcement.
In line with the observance of June as No Tobacco Month, the DOH is up with an information dissemination campaign against tobacco use towards a Smoke-Free Philippines.
This after mortality incidence showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos die of non-communicable diseases in which smoking is one of the main causes.
By 2015, Central Philippine Union Conference health director Charles Nogra said they are expecting that smoking ban all over the country would already become a law for a less polluted Philippines.
“Well-drafted law results to high compliance. So maybe, the law in the Philippines is not drafted well that’s why we have less compliance,” Nogra said.
Tapping the local government units to develop an ordinance mandating their respective community to strictly observe RA 9211 and imposing appropriate penalties for violators is one move to deal with the problem.
Last January 2007, the banning of tobacco advertisements in radio and television was imposed. By July last year, ads were banned in cinemas. “Hopefully tobacco propagandas will be completely banned in all areas starting next month,” he said.
Nogra also said that the government should not worry about loss in tax collectibles that the Philippine economy may incur if the closing down of tobacco industry might follow.
He warned that the harm smoking gives to people is greater than the benefits it gives to the economy. — Jessica Ann Pareja, UP intern/MEEV