2020年7月21日

参议员Sherwin Gatchalian呼吁政府加大禁止使用卷烟和烟草制品的力度，以阻止年轻的菲律宾人养成吸烟习惯，并降低COVID-19感染的风险。

在与学生领袖的网络研讨会上，参议院基础教育，艺术和文化负责人委员会强调，要实现无烟菲律宾，需要采取三个重要步骤：与烟草业争夺激烈的游说团体，使烟农过渡为种植可持续的高质量烟草作物，劝说年轻人戒烟。

“我支持倡导在校园，办公室，饭店和封闭的公共场所打造无烟环境，” Gatchalian说。

他强调说：“我真的相信，如果我们将资源用于更具生产力的工作，而不是治疗可以预防的与吸烟有关的疾病，我们的国家将会更加进步和经济发达。”

据Gatchalian称，引用全球青年烟草调查（GYTS）的一项研究，吸烟在13至15岁的男孩中占17.6％，而13-15岁的女孩中吸烟率则为7％。

GYTS调查还显示，有50.6％的学生在销售点注意到烟草广告或促销，而在过去的12个月中，有67.1％的学生在学校接受了有关烟草危害的培训。

就吸烟的态度而言，调查显示，有10.8％的学生认为吸烟使人们在庆祝活动，聚会和社交聚会上感觉更舒适。

但是，这位参议员指出，菲律宾年轻人强烈赞成在公共场所禁止吸烟，其中93.1％的学生赞成在封闭的公共场所禁止吸烟，约90.9％的学生赞成在室外公共场所禁止吸烟。

Gatchalian说，有必要提高学习者的媒体和信息素养，尤其是因为他们更容易接触香烟广告。

Senator supports advocacy for smoke-free PH

July 21, 2020

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has called on the government to heighten its campaign on the adverse effects of continued use of cigarette and tobacco products to discourage young Filipinos from taking up smoking habits and also the reduce risk of COVID-19 infection.

In a webinar with student leaders, the Senate committee on basic education, arts and culture head emphasized that there are three important steps for a smoke-free Philippines: fight the heavy lobby from the tobacco industry, transition tobacco farmers to planting sustainable high-quality crops, and dissuade the youth from smoking.

“I’m in support of the advocacy to make our campuses, offices, restaurants, and enclosed public places smoke-free,” Gatchalian said.

“I really believe that our country would be more progressive and economically developed if we channel our resources to more productive endeavors instead of treating smoking-related diseases, which can be prevented,” he stressed.

According to Gatchalian, cigarette use is prevalent among boys aged 13 to 15 at 17.6, percent, while the percentage of girls aged 13-15 into smoking are at seven percent, citing a research done by the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS).

The GYTS survey also showed that 50.6 percent of students noticed tobacco advertisements or promotions at points of sale, while 67.1 percent were taught in school about the dangers of tobacco in the past 12 months.

In terms of attitude towards smoking, the survey showed that 10.8 percent of students thought smoking tobacco help people feel more comfortable at celebrations, parties and social gatherings.

The senator, however, noted that young Filipinos are heavily in favor of banning smoking in public places, with 93.1 percent of students in favor of a smoking ban in enclosed public places and around 90.9 percent of students favor a smoking ban in outdoor public places.

Gatchalian said there is a necessity to boost learners’ media and information literacy especially since they are more exposed to cigarette advertisements.

“Since learning from home will be the new norm when classes reopen, the learning environment for the youth should be smoke-free,” the senator stressed.