ASEAN member countries review smoke-free laws in Davao City

DAVAO CITY, July 8 (PIA) A total of 60 participants from eight Southeast Asian countries joined in the regional workshop on smoke-free laws organized by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance at the SMX convention center here.

Dr. Domilyn Villareiz, chief of the anti-smoking task force of Davao City said the workshop is anchored on the theme: “Strengthening Enforcement towards building model smoke-free cities in the ASEAN.”

She said the gathering aims to raise awareness on the harms of second-hand smoke and to empower and recognize individuals, groups, institutions, civil society partners, local government and other stakeholders to continue to ban smoking in public and advocate for smoke free environments.

Villareiz also looked forward that the gathering can build political constituencies that can lobby for stronger smoke-free laws and regulations consistent with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and its guidelines.

“Mobilizing support for 100 percent smoke-free indoor environments is of critical importance to render visibility to millions of people who are supportive of comprehensive bans on smoking,” she said.

Villareiz stressed that political decisions will be easier to make if it is clear that there is overwhelming public support for smoke-free environments.

She also noted that many countries nowadays notice that second-hand tobacco smoke kills and causes serious illnesses.

“One hundred percent smoke-free environments fully protect workers and the public from the harmful effects of tobacco smoke.  Everyone has the right to breathe clean air, free from tobacco smoke,” Villareiz said.

Health ministers and environment director from Cambodia, Vietnam, Indonesia Laos, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines reported the best practices in the promotion of smoke-free environments particularly worship and public places.

A World Health Organization study in 2011 cited Davao City as a leading example of a city in the Philippines that has effectively implemented s smoke-free legislation and has significantly reduced the extent that its residents and those visiting the city are exposed to second-hand smoke.    

The study attributed the success of the campaign to the political leadership, good coordination and in particularly, the development of an extensive network of committed smoke-free advocates, large-scale information dissemination and the willingness to enforce a smoke-free policy.

“Consequently, for most part, the smoking ban resulted in major changes in the behavior of smokers in the city as they have learned to become responsible citizens, leading to the point that it is hard to see anyone smoking in public places,” the WHO Smoke Free City Case Study noted. (PIA XI-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)