After months of delay, Malacañang on Thursday announced President Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) outlawing smoking in public areas, transforming a former Davao City ordinance into a national policy.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto C. Abella said Duterte signed EO 26, which prohibits smoking in public places and public vehicles, whether stationary or in motion.
It disallows minors to smoke, sell, or buy cigarettes or any other tobacco products. Also, vendors may not sell cigarettes in schools, public playgrounds, youth hostels and recreational facilities, including those frequented by minors. Under EO 26, each building must have a designated smoking area (DSA) where smoking may be allowed. This may be in an open space, or a separate area with proper ventilation.
Also, the DSAs should have no opening that will allow air to escape to the smoke-free area of the building or vehicle, except for a single door equipped with an automatic door closer.
“The DSA shall not be located in or within 10 meters from entrances, exits, or any place where people pass or congregate, or in front of air intake ducts,” the EO read.
In January Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said the President had asked her to draft the EO prohibiting smoking in public areas for a “100-percent smoke-free environment”.
“The EO will actually mandate all agencies of the government, including local government, to implement a 100-percent smoking ban in all public places. It’s not just Metro Manila,” Rosell-Ubial said in an earlier interview.
“It’s an order to the Executive branch. It’s up to the local government units to draft their, shall we call, ordinances to implement this EO,” Rosell-Ubial said.
In 2015 a report by the World Health Organization (WHO)
revealed 22.7 percent, or 15.9 million of Filipino adults, are reported to be in tobacco use, with 40.3 percent among men and 5.1 percent among women. The prevalence of tobacco use was more widespread in rural areas (25.3 percent) than in urban areas (22.1 percent).
Overall, 18.7 percent, or 13.1 million of Filipino adults, smoke tobacco on a daily basis.
The report, titled “Global Adult Tobacco Survey”, estimated 21.5 percent, or 3.6 million of Filipino adults, were exposed to tobacco smoke in enclosed areas at the
workplace and 34.7 percent,or 24 million of Filipino adults, in enclosed areas at home.
In spite of the positive outcome of the WHO report, the health department vowed to search for more ways to lower the number of smokers among Filipinos.