DOH wants graphic warnings on cigarette packs

The Department of Health (DOH) will issue this coming week an administrative order requiring cigarette manufacturers to place graphic warnings in their products, and expects to get the support of probably the country’s most powerful smoker — soon-to-be president Sen. Benigno “Noynoy" Aquino III.

“Palagay ko maski naninigarilyo ang pangulo di siya kokontra rito dahil ito public health. Ito ay sang-ayon sa Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, ito obligasyon natin bilang bansa na pumirma sa treaty na yan na dapat sundin," said Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla in an interview on government-run dzRB radio.

(I do not expect the incoming president to object to this because this involves public health. This is in line with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and is part of our obligation as a country that ratified the treaty.)

Unofficial tallies by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and various election watchdogs show Aquino ahead of his eight other contenders in the presidential race. He is also expected to lead when Congress starts next week the canvassing of votes for president and vice president cast last May 10.

Padilla said cigarette packs should have had the graphic warnings as early as 2008, three years after the country ratified the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

“Ito mga litrato sa pakete, yan ang known internationally, marami ang bansa na lumalabas nito (These graphic warnings are known internationally and many countries are coming out with this)," he said.

He said textual warnings such as “Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health" and “Smoking kills" are not enough especially for young and illiterate smokers. “Ang karanasan ng ibang bansa binabalewala ang text warning. Pag nakita ang graphic warning sa kabataan at di marunong magbasa mas malaki ang epekto nito."

(In other countries, a textual warning is usually ignored. But a graphic warning has a big effect on the youth and on those who cannot read.)

Padilla said the graphic warnings will be colored and should offset the strategy of tobacco companies to target the youth as “replacements" for older generations of smokers. He also said the government will push for an absolute ban on cigarette advertising, including those in billboards.

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