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It is the
most calculating killer in the world. It kills 4 million people
every year worldwide. This year, 20,000 Filipinos will die because
of it. We can buy it in every sari-sari store. It's being peddled
on the streets. Our children are taught to buy, sell and eventually
use it. We see it glorified in billboards, sports and musical
events, even in movies. It goes by the name of "yosi", "cigarillo",
"tabako". Whatever the name, there is only one truth - Tobacco
kills.
In 1999, tobacco was the leading cause of 3,318 lung cancer cases
in the Philippines. 89,391 patients diagnosed with coronary artery
diseases were exposed to it. And 61,863 cases of chronic obstructive
pulmonary diseases were linked to tobacco smoke. Tobacco is also
bad economics. While the government earned P21.4B from the sale
of tobacco, it spent P46.4B in healthcare for Filipinos suffering
from tobacco-related diseases, losing precious billions that could've
been used to help uplift many Filipino lives.
Second-hand smoke also kills. And our children are the
hardest hit of all. We slowly kill our children every time we
light a cigarette stick in their presence. Asthma, bronchial infections,
respiratory ailments and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS
are only some of the effects of second-hand tobacco smoke on our
children. More alarmingly, we are helping our children pick up
the habit of smoking at an early age---as early as 7 years old
(Ramiro, 1999).
According to the World Bank, nicotine fulfills the key criteria
for addiction or dependence and this can be established quickly.
In the Philippines, smoking prevalence among children in urban
areas is about 30%, with majority of them starting at the age
of 13 to 15 years old (Dans et al, 1999). By the year 2005, the
population for 10-24 years old is projected at over 24M (Phil
Statistical yearbook, 1999). About 7M of this population will
almost certainly be regular smokers. This means over 3.5 million
children will eventually die because of their smoking habit and
its effects.
What are we doing to protect the lives and future of our children?
What action are we taking to prevent them from getting hooked
to this addicting substance called tobacco?
We, the undersigned, are appealing to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
to protect the right of our children to breathe cigarette and
tobacco smoke-free air.
We urge the President to:
- Give high
priority to tobacco control and legislation initiatives that
push for:
a. A
substantial increase in taxes and duties imposed on all cigarette
and tobacco products;
b.
Declaring illegal the sale of cigarettes and tobacco related
products to, and by, minors;
c.
Total ban on advertising and promotion of cigarettes and tobacco
products;
d. Full and more prominent disclosure of the harmful effects
of smoking on all cigarettes and tobacco packaging;
e. Support to tobacco farmers for crop diversification/substitution
and for manufacturers to shift to other products
- Support
the establishment of affordable smoking-cessation clinics nationwide;
- The imposition
on the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education,
Culture and Sports (DECS) of the responsibility to inform the
general public, children in particular, of the serious, long-term
and hazardous effects of smoking;
- Enforce
and implement the Clean Air Act, the law that prohibits smoking
in all enclosed public places;
- Strongly
support the World Health Organization's Framework Convention
on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which aims to lay down stricter
global control measures on tobacco and cigarette sale, advertising
and promotions.
We believe
in the capability of President Macapagal-Arroyo's administration
to make a strong and firm stand against tobacco. Because TOBACCO
KILLS. And the only way to stop a killer is to CRUSH IT. In every
way possible.
Signatories:
1. ABS-CBN Foundation's Bantay Kalikasan
2. Adventist Council Against Drug Abuse
3. American College of Chest Physicians - Philippine Chapter
4. Asian Vascular Society
5. Association of Nurse Educators of the Philippines
6. Bronchology Association of the Philippines, Inc.
7. Cancer Warriors Foundation
8. CBCP-National Secretariat for Social Action, Justice, and Peace
9. Center for Alternative Development Initiatives
10. DOH-Tobacco Control Secretariat
11. Doctors Against Smoking
12. East Avenue Medical Center
13. Fetus as Patient Institute of the Philippines
14. Foundation for Adolescent Development
15. Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance, Philippines
16. Girl Scouts of the Philippines
17. GOMBURZA
18. Have a Heart for the Child Foundation
19. Heart Foundation of the Philippines
20. Institute of Health Policy and Development Studies - UP-NIH
21. Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation - UERM
22. Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
23. Lung Center of the Philippines
24. Marikina City
25. Museo Pambata Foundation, Inc.
26. National Asthma Movement
27. North Philippine Union Mission - SDA
28. Nutritionists Dieticians Association of the Philippines
29. Office of Councilor Victor Ulanday, Muntinlupa City
30. Organization of Public Health Educators
31. Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, Inc.
32. Philippine Association of Diabetes Educators
33. Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons,
Inc.
34. Philippine Cancer Society
35. Philippine Children's Medical Center
36. Philippine College of Chest Physicians
37. Philippine College of Occupational Medicine
38. Philippine Dental Association
39. Philippine Heart Association
40. Philippine Heart Center
41. Philippine Pediatric Society
42. Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists
43. Philippine Society of Critical Care Medicine
44. Philippine Society of Diabetologists
45. Philippine Society of Pathologists, Inc.
46. Public Health Initiatives
47. Rainbow Camp
48. Seventh Day Adventist Church
49. Teodora: In Defense of the Authentic Woman
50. The National Consortium of Government Diabetic Clinics
51. Tobacco Free Philippines
52. University of the Philippines Manila
53. Valenzuela City
54. Women's Media Circle
55. Yosi Kadiri Organization
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