Philippines: Advocates Call for Graphic Cigarette Warnings

Source from:  Solar News  01/20/2014

Cancer survivors, persons with disabilities and health advocates marched together on the streets on Friday, hoping to make a difference in the uphill battle against tobacco.

They sought to mark cigarette packs with graphic health warnings to help smokers kick the habit.

Each has with his or her own personal stories on the bane of cigarette smoking.

They were led by cancer survivor Emer Rojas, who used to smoke two packs of cigarettes a day.

Rojas is a laryngeal cancer survivor, now the president of a non-government organization that supports cancer and persons with disabilities.

His group, New Vois Association of The Philippines, Inc., wants to present graphic images of throat cancer, lung cancer, heart attacks, stroke, and pregnancy risks like premature birth, on cigarette labels to inform smokers about the harmful effects of tobacco use.

Health Assistant Secretary Eric Tayag says countries that have these labels saw a drop in cigarette smokers.

Akbayan Representative Barry Gutierrez filed House Bill 3686 this week, proposing picture-based health warnings on tobacco products.

Gutierrez says such a bill is long overdue, as the country already signed a a commitment to the World Health Organization's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control back in 2003.

He says he hopes the bill will be passed before the 16th Congress ends.

The Senate is also set to conduct a hearing on picture-based health warnings on cigarette packs. Enditem