Why Sen. Loren is staunchly against smoking

When I came out with my piece on the anti-smoking law last Thursday, a lot of readers were surprised to find out that the smoking ban actually covers not just the city of Manila, but the entire country as well.

It is really unfortunate that there is a lack of information regarding this anti-smoking law or Republic Act No. 9211. This therefore prompted me to ask the co-author of the law, Sen. Loren Legarda, to please clarify certain aspects of the smoking ban being enforced nationwide.

I also asked the office of Sen. Juan Flavier, principal sponsor of the anti-smoking law, to get additional information regarding this bill that he filed 12 years ago, except that he was busy attending a committee hearing regarding health matters as we were about to go to press. But I will try to get in touch with his office probably next week so we may further be enlightened about the provisions of the anti-smoking law. Meanwhile, let’s hear first from Sen. Legarda and find out what she has to say regarding R.A. 9211.

What prompted you to work on this anti-smoking law?

I worked on this law because of my belief that smoking is bad not only for the smoker’s health but also for people around them and the environment in general. But this is not to say that I do not recognize the fact that the tobacco industry generates a reasonable amount of employment for some of our people.

I liked the way the anti-smoking law turned out because Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 addresses the root problem of smoking and seeks to discourage a person from engaging in it without violating the exercise of his free will and choice.

I think the campaign against smoking is part of the overall campaign against air pollution in our country, which in the recent years have escalated to alarming level and has caused numerous respiratory problems to our people, especially our children.

Aside from the no-smoking ordinance in Quezon City (by former Vice Mayor Cielito del Mundo), do you know of anyone else who tried to push for an anti-smoking law before?

I think the law’s sponsor on the Senate, Sen. (Juan) Flavier worked on an anti-smoking law in the last Congress but its passage was overtaken by events, particularly the impeachment trial.

When did you first work on this anti-smoking law?

I filed a bill in the Eleventh Congress, and the same was consolidated in the Flavier bill.

What were the difficulties you encountered while working on it?

There was this need to recognize that smoking is bad for the health of the people in general, but at the same time, recognize that the interests of various stakeholders who rely on the tobacco industry for livelihood and business must be protected. There was also the clamor to enact a law that should not be protective of one sector only and hostile to another, and must not touch on the sensitive issue of control and prohibition, as it is infringing on the exercise of free will and choice of an individual, and the dictates of commercialism and the market as a whole.

Did you have to meet with the tobacco manufacturers?

Yes, the committee did. This can be seen in the outcome of the law in that the declaration of policy of the law declares that the use, sale and advertisements of tobacco products shall be regulated to promote a healthful environment and protect citizens from the hazards of tobacco smoke, and at the same time ensure that the rights of various stakeholders in the tobacco industry are not adversely prejudiced.

(To be continued)