100% SMOKE-FREE METRO MANILA BY 2012

The World Health Organization (WHO) marks May 31st as the World No Tobacco Day.

In the Philippines, this day seems to be a red-letter day especially for smokers. That is, on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, the Metro Manila Development Authority has to enforce this "100% Smoke-Free Metro Manila By 2012." This is the environmental campaign which bans smoking in public such as parks, markets, bus terminals, airports, seaports, among others.

Smoking is a dangerous thing. It is a passe, but we have to look it that way. You are on your way to ruining yourself once you have to try smoking. Statistics show that smoking is one of the major causes of deaths among Filipinos. The WHO backs it up by declaring that smoking increases the figures of dying youngsters worldwide. These figures seem to be enough proofs that smoking doesn't give you any good.  Interestingly, these figures of passive smoking victims tend to level off. That is, even if you don't smoke, you are prone to second-hand smoking which causes some respiratory and other form of diseases. As  innocent as you are, you are still a victim.

On that note, at least, you have it tried. And, as far as "pakikisama" is concerned, you are said to be good enough. Historically, puffing up cigarettes is a culture that Filipinos have copied from Spaniards. It is one symbolic means of being that "tunay na lalaki." It is a way of doing "pakikisama." It is an effective escape from boredom and pressures.

Today is the beginning of the enforcement of no-smoking ban. The MMDA traffic enforcers, local government health and sanitation officers, together with the members of the Philippine National Police, would round up the entire Metro Manila. If you are caught smoking, these local health officers would impose a fine of Php500.00 for first offense for puffing up a cigarette in public. In ways that you can't afford paying off the fine, you have to render an 8-hour community service as arranged by the MMDA authorities. 

As noted, this environmental campaign is a part of the anti-tobacco use program funded by the New York-based Bloomberg Philanthropies. This two-year agreement for "Enforcement of a 100-percent Smoke-free Environment Policy in Metro Manila" was signed by the then MMDA Chair Oscar Inocentes and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, or the Union, in the first quarter of 2010.

This campaign attracts the Union, a France-based nonprofit scientific organization promoting lung health worldwide. That is, the Union has endorsed the program of the MMDA to Bloomberg Philanthropies, a charitable institution of American billionaire entrepreneur-turned-New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg. Accordingly, the Bloomberg Philanthropies has approved the Php9.5 million grant to finance the said environmental campaign. 

This 100% smoke-free Metro Manila by 2012 environmental campaign has such a noble purpose. After all, it does jut intensify the implementation of laws as provided for in the Republic Act No. 9211, otherwise known as the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. 

We just hope that the implementation of this environmental campaign would never go to no avail after World No Tobacco Day. For in the end, we, Filipinos, are just here to cooperate.