Tobacco companies asked to employ health warning law

CEBU, Philippines – Former PhilHealth director Risa Hontiveros is pushing for tobacco manufacturers to start releasing packages bearing the highly visible graphic health warnings issued by the Department of Health last year.

Citing a DOH data which notes that 240 Filipinos die everyday from tobacco-related diseases, Hontiveros expressed grave concern regarding the four-month delay in the implementation of the Graphic Health Warning Law.

Hontiveros, who is now running as senator under the ruling Liberal Party, said that the implementation of the said law is an important policy measure that could protect the citizens from the serious health implications caused by smoking.

"With every day that the law's implementation is delayed, more lives are on the line. The announced four-month delay would have been equivalent to another 28,800 deaths from smoking-related diseases which we could have prevented." said Hontiveros in a statement.

The government is supposed to implement the Graphic Health Warnings Law (Republic Act 10643) this month, which requires 50 percent of cigarette labels to display images of the harmful effects of smoking.

DOH earlier announced moving the target to March 2016, citing the need to finish the measure's implementing rules and regulations.

"I hope the government could implement this law as soon as possible. Besides, the graphic health warnings can already be put in place even as the IRR is being finalized. We are virtually in a race here against death. And death has already a lead start," Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros said only five percent of smokers get to successfully quit the habit.

She said that if the country wants to reduce the casualties of smoking, the focus should be on preventing the youth from falling into the "deadly habit."

"The best way is to deter the youth from smoking early on before they take on the habit or persuading them entirely from picking their first cigarette. This is the primary objective of the Graphic Health Warning Law," Hontiveros said.

"The tobacco companies already had one year to comply with the measure. They should stop making excuses and comply with the law," Hontiveros further said. —/ATO (FREEMAN)