DAVAO CITY, Oct. 30 (PIA) — A top health officer urged medical professionals and members of government line agencies to advocate more on the campaign against smoking in public places.
Rosemarie Basanes, Regional Tobacco Program Manager of the Department of Health XI said the No Smoking Advocacy Campaign needs to be reinforced not only in communities but also within the line-government agencies of government.
She said it is best to help for other agencies which are already knowledgeable of the law to assist other agencies so that many will understand the importance of the No Smoking Law.
“This can be done through the conduct of technical assistance from line government agencies which are already knowledgeable to agencies which are not,” Basanes said.
She observed that not all line government agencies are aware of the Anti-Smoking Campaign especially of the role to advocate this drive to the communities.
Basanes stressed there is already a national law banning smoking in public places.
She said Executive Order No. 26 which bans smoking in schools, workplaces, sidewalks and public vehicles.
Basanes said that under this law, selling of cigarettes to minors is also banned.
“EO 26 was signed by the President and took effect in July 23, 2018,” she said.
Basanes said that the EO is another milestone where the government gives priority to the right to protect public health.
She stressed that the implementation of this EO is a realization of the dream of a tobacco-free future.
Basanes said that a way to spread awareness is to put up tarpaulins at the boundaries of municipalities stressing that the place is already a smoke-free country.
“In this manner, people who smoke will be aware not to smoke in your area,” she said.
Basanes observed that from the cities of Panabo to Tagum and from the municipalities of Maco to Lupon, Davao Oriental, many areas are already implementing a ban on smoking in public places. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)
