Smoking made scarier?

A picture may be worth a thousand words — at least to anti-tobacco advocates who want to scare Filipinos into kicking the smoking habit.

Dr. Encarnita Limpin, president of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines, said they are seeking to amend Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulations Act to allow pictures of those sick with tobacco-related illnesses to be printed on cigarette packaging to discourage Filipinos from smoking.

She noted that this strategy is stipulated in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the first international treaty on public health. The treaty was initiated by the World Health Organization.

The Philippines became the 63rd country to ratify the treaty after the Senate passed Resolution No. 195 last Monday.

Limpin said while most of the provisions in RA 9211 are similar to those in the treaty, the anti-tobacco law did not touch on putting photographs on cigarette packs.

"I think it would be better if we also implement such a strategy. It may discourage people from smoking cigarettes," she said in a telephone interview.

RA 9211 and the treaty both regulate the use of cigarettes in public places and their sale to minors. They also require establishments to have smoking areas.

The two measures also restrict tobacco product advertisements and sponsorship, particularly of sporting events, until they are totally phased out and banned by 2008.