Youth smoking prevention program receives support

The Youth Smoking Prevention (YSP) program of Philip Morris Phils. has gained the support of President Arroyo and former President Fidel Ramos.

President Arroyo urged Philip Morris officials to closely coordinate with the Department of Health in expanding the coverage of the YSP, whose values education program for public high schools has been endorsed by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports.

Another YSP component is an access prevention program that educates retailers not to sell cigarettes to minors.

The two leaders aired their support for the YSP during the recent groundbreaking of Philip’s $300-million (P16-billion) manufacturing facility, which Mrs. Arroyo described as "one of the biggest, single investments in Asia today."

Earlier, Philip Morris Phils. managing director George Farah said the company has communicated to the World Health Organization its willingness to work with them on a comprehensive global treaty and with individual governments on a national legislation regulating the manufacturing, marketing and sale of cigarettes.

Philip Morris also supports the passage of a minimum age law for the purchase of cigarettes and legislation on regulations for tobacco advertising and promotion vis-a-vis the need to also protect the rights of adult smokers.