Ban point-of-sale tobacco ads, health department tells LGUs
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday urged local government units (LGUs) to include the ban on point-of-sale tobacco advertisements in ordinances they will create.
"We really hope that our LGUs will include the ban on point-of-sale in their local ordinances," said DOH Secretary Dr. Paulyn Ubial in an interview.
Ubial said the passage of ordinances among LGUs will be a good response to President Duterte's Executive Order (EO) banning smoking in all public places.
LGUs are vested with the power to put more teeth in the administration's tobacco control efforts by approving ordinances that will determine penalties to be imposed on violators.
Ubial added that LGUS at the same time can also use the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) as their basis.
"They can make their local ordinances based on the FCTC, where it is provided that even point-of-sale ads are not allowed," said Ubial.
She cited as an example the Davao City ordinance which bans point-of-sale tobacco advertisements, including those in sari-sari stores.
Article 13 (Tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship) of the FCTC provides that parties are urged to impose "a total ban on any display and on the visibility of tobacco products at points of sale, including fixed retail outlets and street vendors".
The Philippines had ratified the FCTC in 2005.
The Health Chief added that LGUs political will in protecting their constituents should be tapped because of the limitations of Republic Act 9211 and Executive Order 26 on the issue of point- of- sale advertisements.
Under RA 9211, outdoor tobacco advertising shall be prohibited as no leaflets, posters, and similar outdoor advertising materials may be posted, except inside the premises of point-ofsale retail establishments.
One of the provisions of EO 26 includ prohibitions to place any form of tobacco advertisement outside of the premises of pointof-sale retail establishments. / PNA
Under RA 9211, outdoor tobacco advertising shall be prohibited as no leaflets, posters, and similar outdoor advertising materials may be posted, except inside the premises of point-of-sale retail establishments.