CSC Readies for World No Tobacco Day, No Smoking Month

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reiterates its stance against smoking in the bureaucracy, in line with the celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31 and the No Smoking Month in June.

The CSC, in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), released CSC Memorandum Circular No. 13. series of 2016 encouraging all government offices to participate in the various activities of the celebrations, which include the reiteration of CSC Memorandum Circular No. 17, s. 2009 (“Smoking Prohibition based on 100% Smoke Free Policy”) and the CSC-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01 (“Protection of the Bureaucracy Against Tobacco Industry Interference”), a landmark policy that limits the interaction between the government and the tobacco industry.

World No Tobacco Day is an annual international celebration hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) that aims to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use.

This year’s theme in the Philippines aims to garner support for the Graphic Health Warnings (GHW) Law, which took effect last March 3. Under the GHW Law, all cigarette manufacturers are required to replace the colorful packaging of their cigarette packs with pre-approved graphic health warnings that show the adverse effects of cigarette smoking to health. All cigarette manufacturers must observe full compliance to this law by Nov. 4.

The National No Smoking Month comes immediately after the World No Tobacco Day. This month-long event, which was declared an annual activity under Proclamation No. 183, s. 1993, is an invitation for the country’s smokers to kick the habit, and for non-smokers not to start smoking.

According to the WHO, smoking remains as one of the biggest killers in the world, with at least 5 million lives claimed by tobacco-related diseases worldwide every year. The prevalence of deaths caused by tobacco in the Philippines is similarly high, with 240 Filipinos dying every day.

“The CSC strongly advocates against smoking because it does not only put the smoker’s health in danger but it also poses harm to the environment,” said CSC Commissioner Robert S. Martinez.

An article published in Tobacco Control, an international peer-reviewed journal for health professionals and others in tobacco control, cited that 98 percent of all cigarettes contain plastic non-biodegradable filters. (CSC)