Graphic posters eyed for cigarette buyers

MANILA – An antismoking group is calling on local government officials to mandate the placing of posters of images of smoking-related illnesses in point-of-sale areas.

According to New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP) president Emer Rojas, there is need for complementary GHWs posters in points-of-sale, such as in sari-sari stores, since majority of smokers buy cigarettes by pieces only, and not in packs.

“Chances of graphic warnings being missed by those only buying in pieces are there. This is why we are hoping our local government officials can help complement the GHW law by having local ordinances,” Rojas said.

NVAP estimates that about 80 percent of cigarette consumers in the country are buying cigarettes only by pieces.

Rojas said the role of local governments in deterring smoking habits have already been proven effective in the past as there have already been smoke-free ordinances passed in some cities.

These are in Davao City, Maasin City in Leyte, Balanga City in Bataan, and Amlan City in Negros Occidental, among others.

“Having these all-important picture warnings on the dangers of cigarette smoking at points-of-sale is crucial since many Filipino smokers are buying sticks of cigarettes only, and not in packs,” Rojas said.

The DOH had said that addressing the “tingi-tingi” system in buying cigarettes is one of the areas they want to explore in implementing the graphic health warning (GHW) law.

Meanwhile, Rojas reiterated NVAP’s call for

the Department of Health (DOH) to finally release the templates to be used as GHW in cigarette packs.

“The earlier we can decide on the pictures that will be used the better for all who stand to benefit from this legislation. Any further delay will be disastrous since the law since more people more people shall be lured to smoking due to the absence of adequate and effective warnings on cigarette packs,” he said.

Republic Act 10643 or the graphic health warning (GHW) law mandates tobacco manufacturers to comply with the law within a period of one year from the issuance of the initial set of templates.

Another eight months are given to retailers to exhaust the old stocks without the picture warnings in the market.

DOH-National Center for Health Promotion Supervising Officer Luz Tagunicar had said the department would come out with the templates in September.

Section 15 of RA 10643 states that the DOH is mandated to come out with the first set of 12 templates of Graphic Health Warnings 30 days after the law takes effect.