As the global community observed World No Tobacco Day yesterday,  the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), for its part,  affirmed its advocacy for smoke-free agency and healthy lifestyle of its personnel and target clientele.

World No Tobacco Day is observed every May 31, with this year’s theme “Tobacco-a threat to development.”

In her memorandum of support sent to all officials and employees of the DSWD Central Office, field offices, centers and institutions, and attached agencies, DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo emphasized that the Department upholds the rights and promotes the interests of the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, families and communities. These include, among others, the right to breathe clean air free from tobacco smoke and promote public health towards greater sustainable development through the strict adherence to and implementation of tobacco control measures.

“As the lead social welfare and development agency in providing social services to the public, it is  our ethical and primary duty to protect our clientele, particularly children, and our personnel from the threat of tobacco interference and harm of tobacco use and secondhand smoke,” she said.

“Tobacco control measures, such as the strict enforcement of the ‘No Smoking” Policy in the Department’s premises in its Central and Field Offices, help save lives and reduce health risks,” Sec. Taguiwalo underscored.

The Secretary also reminded all personnel to avoid unnecessary interaction with the tobacco industry as prohibited by the 2010 Joint Memorandum Circular of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the Department of Health (DOH). Prohibited interactions with the tobacco industry include but not limited to partnership or cooperation; preferential treatment; accepting gifts, donations and sponsorships; financial or material interest in any transactions; accepting other favors; and engaging in an occupation activity within the tobacco industry.

Forum on World No Tobacco Day

Aside from the memorandum of support, the DSWD also held a forum on Tobacco Control yesterday at the DSWD Auditorium, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

In his opening message, Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Santos, Chairperson of the DSWD Technical Working Group on the CSC-DOH JMC, reiterated the message of Sec. Taguiwalo that the Department is promoting healthy lifestyle among its officials and employees by strictly enforcing the ‘No Smoking’ policy within the agency’s premises.

“The Department is a 100 percent no smoking establishment,” Asec. Santos emphasized.

After a brief film showing on the perils of smoking, resource speakers during the forum discussed the urgent need for tobacco control.

Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, Program Director of Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) expounded on the direct connection of tobacco control to the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by 193 heads of state in 2015. The SDGs will guide global development until 2030.

For instance, Dr. Dorotheo explained that SDG 1 “End poverty in all its forms everywhere” directly relates to tobacco consumption since it has been established that most poor people smoke using their meager resources to buy cigarettes instead of basic things like food, health and education.

Likewise,  tobacco control has a direct impact on SDG 3, “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages,” since smoking can cause non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes, among others.

“Tobacco is the number one preventable cause of diseases and premature deaths globally,” shared Dr. Dorotheo.

Tobacco control is also tied-up to SDG 5, “Achieve gender equality and empower women and girls”.

“Women and girls are constantly targeted by the tobacco industry using attractive packaging.  Studies indicate that 20 percent of women use tobacco,” he continued.

Moreover,  Dr. Dorotheo stated, “Tobacco control contributes to end hunger campaign.”

“Dapat kumbinsihin ang mga farmers na huwag na magtanim ng tabako, and plant food crops instead (Farmers should be convinced not to plant tobacco, instead, they should plant food crops),” he stated.

Meanwhile, Attorney Krunimar Escudero III of the CSC discussed the government’s tobacco control measures such as the CSC-DOH JMC.

“The JMC 2010 which is globally recognized as the first policy of its kind aims to protect the bureaucracy against tobacco industry interference,” Atty. Escudero explained.

Finally, Engineer Emerito L. Fojas, president of the New Vois Association of the Philippines, shared his tobacco control advocacy.

A former smoker, Engineer Fojas narrated that he lost his vocal chords to cancer, and he can only speak through a battery operated device which makes him sound like a robot.

Engineer Fojas exhorted smokers to kick the habit, “Gawin ninyo para sa sarili ninyo. Mahirap maging biktima ng sigarilyo kasi slow death talaga siya (Do it for yourselves  (It is hard to be addicted  to cigarettes because it will lead to slow death).” ###