Press Release
August 23, 2007

Pia: Senate to look into Tobacco Regulation Act violations

Senate Committee on Health and Demography Chairperson Senator Pia S. Cayetano has filed Senate Resolution No.92 which will look into reported violations of Republic Act No.9211 or the "Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003."

RA 9211 bans smoking in all schools, including outdoor premises, and in all enclosed or confined public places and all public transportation.

The law also sets different deadlines on new cigarette pack labeling requirements and a ban on all forms of advertising of cigarette products.

These deadlines include July 1, 2006 for prominent health warning reminders on cigarette labels; January 1, 2007 for TV and radio advertisements; and July 1, 2007 for all outdoor and cinema advertisements.

By July 1, 2008, all tobacco sponsorship of sports, concerts and cultural events will be totally prohibited, as well as advertisements on all mass media.

Cayetano filed the resolution after receiving reports documenting numerous violations of the advertising ban deadlines, both in Metro Manila and the provinces.

She has also observed violations of the smoking prohibition in public places and government offices.

The lady senator lamented that the law has apparently failed to change Filipino attitudes toward smoking, thus the need to revisit it. According to a WHO survey, 99% of Filipino adult smokers cited tobacco advertisements as one of the factors that encouraged them to smoke.

Tobacco ads also continue to encourage smoking among our youth - as three out of ten adolescents in urban areas were found to have started smoking at the age of 13-15 years old.

Citing figures from the World Health Organization, Cayetano said tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world, accounting for one in every 10 adult deaths.

In the Philippines, smoking-related illnesses like chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases rank seventh in the list of major causes of death in the country.

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