DepEd launches program banning smoking in schools

New directive also prohibits selling of any tobacco product within 100 meters from a school.

Almost two weeks after the nationwide smoking ban took effect in the Philippines last July 22, the Department of Education (DepEd) launched on Tuesday the “EskweLA BAN sa Sigarilyo” project.

DepEd Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Alberto Muyot said this project is actually aligned with the national government’s intensified efforts against smoking.

It may be recalled that the nationwide smoking ban or the Executive Order (EO) 26 prohibits smoking in enclosed public places and conveyances.

The agency said the EO also designates school principals to ensure schools are smoke-free, and that any tobacco product selling and promotion will not be allowed within 100 meters from the school’s perimeter.

DepEd’s project, in partnership with the Tobacco-Free Kinds Action Fund, is a mixture of the words “eskwela” (school), “laban” (fight) and “ban” of cigarrettes (sigarilyo).

To achieve this, DepEd is developing monitoring and reporting tools, as well as training manuals and campaign materials, which will be piloted in selected schools until the end of 2017.

The pilot schools are located in Pasig, Makati, Batangas, Bulacan, Bataan and Pampanga, added DepEd.

For now, details about the project may be found at its website, http://tobaccofreedeped.org.

According to Ella Cecilia Nalipongiut, director III of the Bu- reau of Learner Support Services, the website’s major feature is the Locator Map.

“Schools can use this Locator Map to monitor stores and establishments on their compliance (to the smoking ban),” she said.

Meanwhile, Muyot said the agency also aims to increase public awareness on DepEd Order no. 48, or the Policy Guidelines on Comprehensive Tobacco Control.

The DepEd Order no. 48 mandates the Child Protection Committee to monitor various tobacco control policies.

Among the areas where smoking is strictly prohibited are centers of youth activity, such as play schools, preparatory schools, elementary schools, high schools, colleges and universities, youth hostels, and recreational facilities for minors; elevators and stairwells; locations with fire hazards; premises of public and private hospitals, as well as medical, dental, and optical clinics; and food preparation areas.