Philippine Senate President Pushes Graphic Signs on Cigarette Packs

Source from:  Manila Bulletin 01/22/2014

Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday urged Congress to fast track the passage of a measure that would require tobacco companies to display graphic warning signs on cigarette packs.

Drilon said that mandating picture-based warnings on cigarette products is an effective way of bringing down the number of cigarette consumers in the country.

"It has been proven that a graphic-based warning is more effective than a text-based warning," Drilon said.

"By strategically placing meaningful graphic images along with text warnings to cigarette cartons and other tobacco products, we hope to effectively deter smoking in the same way that other countries where this system have been set in place were able to reduce the incidence of smoking in their respective jurisdictions," he said.

Various bills that seek to require tobacco companies to display picture-based health warnings on cigarette packs, including Drilon's version of the measure, Senate Bill No. 499, the "Picture-based Health Warning Act of 2013," remain pending at the Senate since last year.

The bills primarily aim to increase public awareness on the harmful effects of smoking.

In Drilon's bill, tobacco firms are required to display picture-based health warnings with accompanying text warnings that will be printed on at least 60 percent of the principal display surfaces of any tobacco package.

"The proposed act is necessary in order to strengthen the government's efforts to discourage smoking," said Drilon.

"I, therefore, assure the respective committee that is hearing the proposed measure and the public of our support for the immediate passage of this bill in order to advance our effort to discourage the millions of youth from trying to smoke," he said.

Congress earlier passed the Sin Tax Reform Act or the Sin Tax Law that calls for higher excise taxes on all cigarette and liquor products to promote healthy living while raking in big revenues for the government.

But despite such advances, the Philippines still has one of the highest numbers of smokers in the Western Pacific Region.

Approval of these bills would be a welcome and effective step in making the public aware of the real effects of smoking to one's health, he said.

Meanwhile, Department of Health Secretary Enrique T. Ona announced that smoking cessation clinics are available all over the country to help smokers who want to quit.

Government statistics say about 10 million Filipinos are current smokers.

The smoking cessation clinics can be found in Dr. Jose Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Caloocan City, Amang Rodriguez Memorial Hospital in Marikina, Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Women's hospital in Malabon city, the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, the Lung Center of the Philippines, Philippine Heart Center, National Children's hospital in Quezon City, St. Luke's Medical Center and Quirino Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City.

The DOH smoking cessation clinics follow the World Health Organization (WHO) techniques to help a smoker quit the habit.

It includes motivation, advice, counseling, telephone or internet support and pharmaceutical aids or medicines to help smokers stop tobacco use and avoid relapse.

"Evidence has shown that cessation is the only intervention with the potential to reduce tobacco-related deaths and should therefore be a part of an overall comprehensive tobacco control policy of any country," Ona said.

"What is very important is there must be an individual desire to stop smoking. If you have no determination, you are most likely going to fail," Ona said.

The WHO said only one to three percent of smokers who rely on willpower to kick the habit achieve lasting abstinence for at least 12 months.

It warned that it is impossible to curb tobacco-related deaths in the next 30 to 50 years unless adult smokers are "encouraged to quit."

The DOH recommends for smokers to assign a specific target date on when they want to truly cease smoking.

To those who have already decided to stop lighting up, the DOH suggests the following: "Throw away your cigarette boxes, lighters, ashtrays. If you have a housemate that smokes, suggest for him or her to stop smoking as well or to smoke outside the house. Talk to your family on how they could help you on your endeavor. Remember that your cravings will eventually stop so if you feel that you want to smoke, breathe deeply, drink water or do other things that will take your mind off smoking. If in any case you return to the habit of smoking, do not lose hope. Try again."

Smoking is known to cause lung cancer, emphysema, and a host of other respiratory diseases and cancers. Enditem