The strict implementation of the no smoking policy in public parks and places in Baguio City may have shifted the prevalence of tobacco smoking and smoke exposure into homes, study shows.
The city government now faces the challenge of addressing the prevalence of tobacco smoke exposure at homes through the development of smoke-free approaches in private places.
This was identified in the research entitled “Assessment of the Effectiveness of Smoke-Free Policy Through Policy Evaluation, Compliance, and Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke in Selected Local Government Units of Benguet” authored by the city’s medical officers Nelson Hora, Donnabel Panes and Ms. Ma Cecilia Agpawa, former team leader of the Smoke-Free Baguio campaign.
The study was conducted from 2022 to 2023 in collaboration with the non-stock, non-profit organization HealthJustice Philippines and funded by the World Health Organization – Western Pacific Region (WHO-WPR).
The study reveals that Baguio has the highest level of compliance with its smoke-free policies at 67.8 percent among the three LGUs assessed, these are La Trinidad at 63 percent and Buguias at 61.2 percent.
The LGUs were assessed on the effectiveness of smoke-free policies in the areas of enforcement, compliance and exposure.
Baguio City also scores highest among the LGUs surveyed in the enforcement of a no-smoking policy indoors, and outdoors, and the prohibition of tobacco sales within establishments, including the prohibition of advertisement of tobacco products.
The researchers applauded the city’s Smoke-Free task force for the strict enforcement of the ordinance resulting in low exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in workplaces at 10 percent; food establishments at seven percent; and, public transport at three percent.
However, the study said second-hand smoke exposure is prevalent within houses in the city at 38 percent.
The Smoke-Free task force is now reviewing Singapore and New Zealand’s generational ban policy on tobacco sales if this can be adopted into an ordinance as a means of addressing second-hand smoking in private places.
Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, chairperson of the City Council’s Committee on Health said banning smoking at home may be against human rights.
“The challenge is how to deal with human rights issues since private homes are not covered in the anti-smoking ordinance, but maybe we can start by expanding our policy proposal on the impacts of cigarette and vape on air pollution,” Tabanda said.
She believes that the shift from a health perspective campaign into an environmental point of view will help strengthen the current smoke-free information education drive. **JMPS
