PR 11 APR 2019

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SWP launches information campaign on smoke-free environment in Quezon City | SWP Press Release 11 Apr 2019
SOCIALWATCH PHILS·THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019

SWP launches information campaign on smoke-free environment in Quezon City

Social Watch Philippines (SWP) together with its community-based organization Aktibong Kilusan Tungo sa Iisang Bayan (AKTIB), in line with its partnership program with LGUs to promote, sustain and defend smoke-free areas, launches an information drive on smoke-free environment in Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Thursday, April 11.

Kagawad Marites Palma, chairman of Clean and Green Committee graces the affair with a representative from the Quezon City Health Department.

The campaign aims to mobilize and involve the community to promote, sustain and defend smoke-free areas towards a healthy environment.

In September 4, 2005, the Philippines became a Party to the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The WHO-FCTC is a treaty to address the health, social, environmental and economic consequences of tobacco consumption and exposure to tobacco smoke worldwide.
The SWP together with the local government officials hang tarpaulins and had a door to door posting of stickers in the sari-sari stores and TODA station.
The tarpaulins and stickers inform the constituents on the provisions of EO No. 26 of President Rodrigo Duterte.

SWP selects primary choice or target for its initial info drive are the sari-sari stores because they are a major factor in tobacco control: they are the links to minors who are the main concerns of the new generation of smokers and they are the sellers of a product which is dubbed asweapons of mass destruction. Also in line are TODA stations to control effects of SHS.

“The information materials will be placed in selected sari-sari stores to remind the store owners not to sell cigarettes to minors and for cigarettes smokers to know the prohibitions of smoking in public places,” SWP said.

Barangay Officials in Barangay Pinyahan support the campaign by mobilizing their Barangay Public Safety Officers (BPSO) to monitor the implementation of the E.O 26.
“We are strengthening this campaign to lessen the victims of Second-Hand Smoke (SHS) in the community. Alam naman natin na malaking chance na magkaroon din ng malubhang sakit ang mga taong nakakalanghap ng usok ng sigarilyo,” said AKTIB National Secretary Sara Salvador.

SWP has an initial of 30 barangays with partnership programs in different cities of Mega Manila.

Social Watch Philippines (SWP) is a network of over a hundred civil society organizations and individuals engaged in research and lobby efforts in holding the government accountable for the fulfillment of national, regional and international commitments to eradicate poverty and carry out social, economic, and gender justice. SWP promotes people-centered sustainable development by proactively monitoring the progress and delivery of social commitments forged by the government and influencing the outcomes of policy decisions through citizen's participation in public finance.