Tobacco use highest among RP poor

Cigarette smoking is highest among the country’s poor, who spend more on tobacco than on clothing, education or even on their own health, results of a recent study showed.

"The ratio of tobacco expenditure to total income is highest among the lowest income level. Since their income is meager, their tobacco expenditures, though low in absolute terms, have great impact," said Dr. Marina Baquilod, a medical specialist from the National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (DOH).

Baquilod, who co-authored the 2005-2006 Tobacco and Poverty Study in the Philippines, said "the poor and poorest households" shell out more cash to light up than for clothing, education and health concerns.

"Any waste of money will further reduce their standard of living and increase malnutrition," Baquilod warned.

The study was conducted by the DOH, University of the Philippines, Philippine College of Medical Researchers’ Foundation Inc., Tobacco Free Initiative and the World Health Organization (WHO).

"Tobacco also contributes to poverty since tobacco users are at a higher risk of falling ill and die prematurely of cancers, heart attacks, respiratory diseases or other tobacco-related diseases thus depriving families of much needed income and imposing additional health care cost," Baquilod stressed.

She cited diseases related to smoking which include trachea, lung and bronchial cancer, lip, oral cavity and larynx cancer, ischemic heart disease; stroke and other ailments of the circulatory system.

Baquilod said a majority of the deaths attributed to smoking come from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and cerebro-vascular disease (CVD).

A 1999 study revealed that around 20,000 people die of smoking-related diseases every year.

The study also showed that 20 percent of the household income of smokers’ families is drained because of tobacco use.

Baquilod noted that raising taxes on tobacco products would help in reducing the consumption of cigarettes.

This would also help raise tax revenues "which are critical given the tight fiscal constraints," she said.

Republic Act 9334, or the revised sin-tax law, imposed an increase in the excise tax on alcohol and tobacco products.

"By reducing consumption, raising tax revenues may help lower the exposure of millions of individuals to the risks and hazards of smoking," Baquilod said.

She stressed that the campaign to quit smoking should also be done actively in public schools so that the poor are fully informed about the dangers of smoking.