MANILA, Philippines ? They'd probably claim that smoke got in their eyes, disabling them from seeing posters and flyers that ban smoking in public places, in accordance with the provisions of R.A. 9211, the Philippine Tobacco Regulations Act. But smokers should know that the no-smoking rule has been in place since July 1, 2007 and covers elevators, stairwells, hospitals, airports, ship terminals, train stations, public untility vehicles and restaurants all over the country.

Schools have been particularly stern in implementing the ban, aware that students have become the new target of cigarette companies because youngsters often equate worldly sophistication with a smoke.

At the Mapua I.T Center Inc. in Makati City, Neil Edwin V. Yuzon of the Center for Student Activities and Discipline, reveals that Makati has banned smoking in all places and utility vehicles since 2002. The city?s firm stance against smoking has rubbed off on Mapua, says Yuzon. ?Smoking anywhere within the school is a major offence,? he says. Those who ignore the no-smoking signs posted all over the campus open themselves to such penalties as community or internal service with counselling for the first offense, suspension with counselling for the second offense, and outright expulsion if the student keeps repeating the infraction.

Notes Yuzon: ?We?ve observed that students who are aware of the penalties become more disciplined and observe the laws. Some have even been convinced to give up the habit altogether.?

Rene Ledesma of the University of Asia and the Pacific?s Student Affairs office confirms this observation. Since smoking is prohibited in the University?s Pasig campus, he says, ?We absolutely do not have students or anyone from the administration who continues to smoke inside the school. I think it?s because the law is clear enough for everyone to understand.?

Over at the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, a longish administrative order from the Office of the President has been issued to literally clear the air. The administrative order from UP president Dr. Emerlita R. Roman was issued on September 5, 2007, and was meant to strictly enforce the smoking ban within the campus and to prohibit the sale and advertising of tobacco within the University of the Philippines System. The UP System includes UP campuses in Baguio, Diliman, PGH-Manila, Palo in Leyte, Miagao in Iloilo, Mintal in Davao City, Cebu, Tacloban and the UP Open University.

The administrative order directs chancellors of large campuses to submit a viable smoking cessation plan that would implement the no-smoking policy within the entire campus in three years? time. All deans and department chairs are held accountable for implementing the ban and have been directed to set aside designated smoking areas outside the academic core zones. The smoking areas, according to the order, ?shall not be located in entrances, exits or close to any place when non-smokers pass. No area accessible to the public shall be designated as a smoking area. This includes waiting sheds, sidewalks, parking spaces, parks, and other similar places.?

Such smoking areas, the order continues, ?shall not have an area larger than 10 square meters. No building shall have more than one smoking area. No area shall be located or designed in such a manner as to provide a privileged space for meeting among smokers. Provisions for sitting and conversing shall not be provided in smoking areas. In any place where food or drinks are served, no area may be separately designated as a ?no smoking area.?"

As if the no smoking signs aren?t enough, all smoking areas within the UP campus shall also have signages that expound on the effects of smoking on the smokers? health, on children, pregnant women and non-smokers, and on governance.

The administrative order is also rife with disciplinary measures against students, faculty, and staff who violate any of its provisions, with sanctions ranging from being charged with simple misconduct for the first offense and grave misconduct for subsequent offenses. ?

Mixed (smoke) signals

Despite the nationwide smoking ban, at least 27 percent of Filipino teenagers aged 13 to 15 years smoke, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Youth Tobacco Survey. The figure reflects a 30 percent increase among young smokers over the past two years. The WHO survey points to the country?s failure to implement the law and the easy access to cigarettes as the main reasons for this increase.

R.A. 9211 imposes a smoking ban that covers all public places and bans the sale of cigarettes and alcohol to minors aged 18 and below starting July 1, 2007. This means that no leaflets, posters and other outdoor advertising materials should be posted except inside the premises of point-of-sale retail establishments. But has anyone been keeping tabs of the cigarette ads and posters tacked on sari-sari stores and electric posts?

The country?s cigarette packages have also been sending mixed messages. While cigarette packages in most countries display graphic health warnings, the Philippines is still waiting for the Picture-based Health Warning Act to be implemented by September. This act requires cigarette packages and other tobacco product packages found in the market, including cartons or master cases, to bear highly visible full-color ?picture-based health warnings with two components; a photographic picture warning and an accompanying written warning related to the picture. Text warnings can be printed in English on the front panel and in Filipino on the back panel or in English only. Hopefully, such warnings will inform teenagers of the real dangers of smoking despite the glamor and fun often associated with cigarette packs.

Quick Facts

? 4 out 10 students aged 13-15 years smoke cigarettes. [CDC-MMWR, 2005]

? Almost 20 percent of young Filipinos begin smoking before age 10. [Miguel-Baquilod, M., NEC, 2001]

? Among the factors influencing smoking, the following are significant: (1) media advertising, (2) exposure to smoke in public places, and (3) one or more parents who smoke. [CDC-MMWR, 2005]

? 62.8 percent of Filipino adolescents are not refused purchase when buying tobacco products in a store. [CDC-MMWR, 2005]

? More male smokers have tried quitting than females. Some women see cigarettes as a ?constant companion,? while others refuse to quit for fear of weight gain. [Health Promotion Int., 2003]

? A study found that among female Filipino smokers, smoking is seen ?as a substitute for expressing feelings,? particularly anger and unhappiness. [Kaufman, N. J. and Nichter, M., 2001]

? The Philippines is the 15th biggest consumer of cigarettes in the world, and the largest cigarette consumer among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). [PDI, 2002 and WHO, 2001]