DOH-7 notes decrease in number of smokers

CEBU, Philippines - Following the implementation of the Sin Tax Bill, the Department of Health-7 noticed a decrease in the number of smokers in Central Visayas.

Doctor Christopher Samson, consultant of the Hospital Wellness Program of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, said they don’t have the figure yet, though, but people are apparently constrained from buying the expensive cigarettes.

“Wala pa g’yod ta’y statistics after sa approval sa Sin Tax Bill kung naa ba’y decrease sa pagpanigarilyo, pero based on what we have learned, maglisod na g’yod ang mga tawo sa pagpalit sa mga sigarilyo,” he said.

The smokers are getting younger, too, Samson further noted, with children as young as five years old recorded in Central Visayas as smokers.

The environment and the influence of smoking parents are just among the reasons why young people engage in smoking, Samson said. 

The doctor said that putting graphic health warning on cigarette packs, will further help diminish the number of smokers as well as make the youth aware of the cigarette’s ill effects and eventually stop their smoking habit.

He urged cigarette vendors to also refrain from selling the products to the children.

“Dili unta dayon mabaligyaan ning mga bata kay dinha magsugod ang vices. It will continue as they grow old,” he appealed.

Furthermore, Samson warned smokers not to consider electronic cigarettes as “alternative” for those who want to quit smoking.

“Electronic cigarette is not an alternative smoking material because that e-cigarette has nicotine that would cause addiction,” he said.

For Vince Ybañez, a call center agent, the Sin Tax Law did not stop him from smoking.

“Wala kay magpangita naman ka gud,” he said.

As to the implementation of graphic health warning on cigar packs, he commented that, “maybe maka-affect siya gamay but for me personally, dili man gud ka magtan-aw sa packing kung mag-smoke.”

 â€œWell, at first siguro maka-realize ka nga mao diay ni mahitabo nako, but kun addict na g’yud ka, it won’t matter,” a female chain smoker, who requested anonymity, also said.

For John Brian Custodio though, who just stopped smoking, the bill affected his smoking habit.

“Affect oy, mahal na kaayo ang cigar, sakit na sa buot mopalit og daghan,” he said. — (FREEMAN)