CSC: Noynoy can't smoke in presidential car

MANILA, Philippines - President-apparent Sen. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III cannot smoke while on board government vehicles, including the “First Car,” which will be for his exclusive use when he assumes the presidency on June 30.

According to the rules set by the Civil Service Commission (CSC), civil servants are barred from smoking in government vehicles as well as government buildings.

Memorandum Circular No. 17 Series of 2009 stipulates an absolute smoking ban in all government premises except in designated smoking areas.

Government vehicles are covered by the policy, which means that the Mercedes-Benz W221 S-Class, the BMW E38 750iL, and the Chevrolet Suburvan that Aquino will be using are smoke-free.

The CSC, without mentioning Aquino, yesterday called on all civil servants “to adopt a healthy lifestyle, starting with avoidance of tobacco smoke.”

In a memorandum circular issued in light of the World No Tobacco Day celebration, CSC chairman Francisco Duque III urged government agencies to “observe a 100 percent smoke-free workplace at all times.”

The CSC also encouraged government offices to actively participate in and organize week-long activities for World No Tobacco Day starting May 31, 2010.

The theme set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for this year’s World No Tobacco Day, “Gender and Tobacco, with an Emphasis on Marketing to Women,” aims to draw attention to the sex-specific effects of tobacco use, thus the need for gender-specific tobacco control strategies.

“A healthy body is imperative for government workers to deliver the highest quality of service to the public,” Duque stressed at a briefing for CSC employees on the harmful effects of tobacco use.

Various groups, including the Department of Health, have been urging Aquino to quit smoking in order to become a role model for millions of Filipinos who are addicted to cigarettes.

Some have even raised concerns over how the Presidential Security Group will provide him security when he steps outside to smoke.

Earlier, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines had asked the president-apparent to be the poster boy of the government’s anti-smoking advocacies.

The call had snowballed but Aquino has not been swayed, claiming that he was elected president despite his being a smoker. He has also said that he would no longer debate on the issue, believing that there are more important matters to talk about.

Smoking is a personal choice

As far as WHO country representative Dr. Soe Nyunt-u is concerned, smoking is Aquino’s “personal choice,” but he should push for higher taxes for cigarettes if he cannot kick the habit.

“As health authorities, we would advise him to quit. But it is his personal choice and we just hope that he would support an increase in tax for tobacco. The important thing is not for adult smokers but for the children not to pick up cigarette smoking,” Soe noted in an interview.   

He said the Philippines is one of the countries with very low excise tax on tobacco.   

“If the government can increase tobacco taxation, the resources they will generate will be sufficient to invest in achieving the Medium-term Development Goal targets,” Soe added. The WHO, he claimed, is eyeing a “simplified tax system” for the Philippines “where all cigarettes will be imposed around P50 tax per package.”   

“It must be increasing every year by P5 so that down the line over six years, we get an excise tax of around P50 per cigarette pack,” Soe added.

At present, a tax of P2.47 is being implemented for a pack of low-end cigarette brands, and P27.16 for high-end brands.

Aside from higher taxes for tobacco, health experts also considered graphic or picture-based warning signs on cigarette packs and barring retail sale of cigarettes among the best means to minimize smoking.       – With Sheila Crisostomo