Protect our children from second-hand smoke
MANILA, Philippines - The public health law group HealthJustice called on the government to strictly enforce regulations on smoking and tobacco advertisements in all parks, resorts, public terminals, conveyances, restaurants, and other tourism-related facilities that thousands of Filipino families are expected to visit this summer. They commended Boracay for declaring the beaches smoke-free recently.
“Smoking and advertising have become so commonplace that none of us think of the impact on children anymore, not just of the second-hand smoke itself but also of the culture of smoking they are growing up with. Whether it’s the beach, public parks, church grounds or swimming pools, public officials must ensure that tourists, especially children, are kept safe from second-hand smoke, which at the last count contains up to 7,000 different toxins,” says Atty. Ipat Luna, executive trustee of HealthJustice.
HealthJustice cites the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2007, which pegged the number of Filipino youths,13-15 years old, who are smoking at four million, not counting the ones exposed to second-hand smoke, which also kills.
The Tobacco Regulation Act or Republic Act 9211 designates public facilities and centers of youth and children activity such as schools, universities, hospitals, restaurants, airports, and bus terminals as smoke-free zones.
