Manila, Philippines – Close to 30 percent of Filipino adults smoke even if almost every one in the population is aware of the ill-effects of puffing a cigarette, results of a survey conducted across the Philippines in 2009 showed.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS), a joint effort by the Philippine’s Department of Health (DOH), National Statistics Office (NSO), the World Health Organization, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28.3 percent of the 9,705 individuals interviewed for the study were “current tobacco smokers.” The NSO said this represents 17.3 million Filipinos.
The NSO estimates there are 61.3 million adult Filipinos, or those aged 15 years old and above.
”This is our official baseline as far as figure estimate of smokers in the Philippines is concerned,” Dr. Eric Tayag of the DOH said during the release of the GATS results last March 18, 2010 at the DOH headquarters in Manila City.
Tayag, who presented the results, said 22.5 percent, or approximately 13.8 million adult Filipinos, smoke daily, each one consuming an average of 10.6 cigarettes, spending around 326.40 pesos ($7.16) every month for it.
Tayag said the study showed men, at 47.7 percent or approximately 14.6 million, outnumbered women, at 9 percent or approximately 2.8 million, in smoking tobacco.
He said 96.2 percent of those who smoke cigarettes made their last purchase in nearby stores, with Fortune brand as the most popular choice at 33.5 percent over Marlboro (19.3 percent), Champion (11.1 percent), Hope (7.3 percent), and Philip Morris (5.2 percent), among others. The purchases were made even if 90.6 percent admitted they noticed ‘health warnings’ on cigarette packages.
Since there is no point of comparison due to an irrelevant ”smoking survey” result in the late 1980s, Philippine Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that the GATS results just show ”there are many smokers now.’
This, even as the survey showed that 94 percent of those interviewed ”believe smoking causes serious illness,” such as lung cancer, heart attack, and stroke. Tayag disclosed that in 2003, there were 35,845 deaths in the country related to lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, all related to smoking.
More than half of the smokers (60.6 percent) have also stated their interest in quitting, Tayag said.
Susan Mercado, Regional Adviser for Tobacco Free Initiative of the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office, said the very aggressive advertising and marketing strategies by cigarette manufacturers, especially those that target the youth, defeats the government’s intent to have a smoke-free environment.
The GATS showed that 71.2 percent of those surveyed notice pro-cigarette advertising within the last month, most of which were seen in stores (53.7 percent), while other forms of promotion, such as through free shirts, have been prevalent.
”Once you try it, they can’t quit. Why? Because, they become addicted… The industry has found a way to get in to you the faster way… So, we really have to keep this stuff away from our children. It’s an addiction,” Mercado said.
Cabral said the government’s objective of achieving a total ban in smoking takes into consideration also the second-hand smokers – those exposed to smoke in their home daily (39.9 percent of those surveyed or about 23.9 million Filipinos), at worksites (66.7 percent for those where smoking is allowed in some closed areas, and 75.7 percent for those where there is no anti-smoking policy), public transportation systems (55.3 percent), restaurants (33.6 percent), and even in government buildings (25.5 percent).
”Second-hand smoke is regarded already in some countries as carcinogen,” Mercado warned.
While there are already measures to control tobacco in the country, such as Republic Act 9211 (The Tobacco Regulatory Act of 2003) and the imposition of higher taxes on cigarettes, Cabral said more work needs to be done to achieve a smoke-free Philippines.
Among her recommendations are the amendment of RA 9211 to disallow interference by tobacco industries in formulation of public policies, to disallow smoking in indoor spaces, to adopt the use of graphic health warnings on cigarette packages (as recommended by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in 2005), and to impose a ban on point-of-sale advertising.
There should also be a comprehensive smoking cessation program to cater to those want to quit, she said.
On a larger scope, Cabral said the government should also think of ways to provide livelihood to tobacco farmers and employees of cigarette manufacturing firms should smoking begin to dwindle in the country./END
