CRUSADE AGAINST SMOKING

The Department of Education (DepEd), through DO 48, prohibits the establishment of Designated Smoking Areas in schools and all DepEd offices, as mandated by the law.

It also tasks the Child Protection Committee (CPC) of each school to report violations of tobacco control measures at the school level. The CPC, whose chairperson is the school principal, shall report violations of the absolute smoking ban in the premises of schools, and of the ban on the sale, advertisement, and promotion of tobacco products in and within the 100-meter perimeter of the premises of all schools.

These guidelines also cover all private elementary and secondary students and school officials, visitors, and other persons who are within the premises of DepEd offices and elementary and secondary schools.

This school year, the Department also rolled out EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo, a project implemented in partnership with the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund, aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Department’s comprehensive tobacco control policy in all schools nationwide.

Other government agencies which pledged their support to the TFG Campaign include the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Youth Commission (NYC).

Deped Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones had earlier shared her personal crusade against tobacco: “Ako ay sumusuporta sa Tobacco-Free Campaign hindi lamang dahil ako ay Secretary of Education. Lumaki ako nang may pananampalataya na nagsasabing huwag sirain ang ating katawan lalo na sa mga bisyo. Lumaki ako na tinuturuan na huwag magsigarilyo,” Briones stated.

She also shared the “Tax Tobacco to the Max” campaign of Social Watch Philippines, a civil society organization of which she was the Lead Convenor, to deter smoking and increase funding for universal health coverage.

“Kami sa Social Watch Philippines ay active partners ng Department of Health para taasan ang buwis ng sigarilyo para malimit ang pagkonsumo ng cigarettes sa pamamagitan ng signature campaign,” she added.

--oOo— The author is Teacher III at Northville 16 Elementary School