The National Youth Commission (NYC) raised an alarm on the growing number of young Pinoys smoking, with two out of five teens aged 13 to 15 lighting up in 2011.
According to NYC, there is an increase of 40% in smoking prevalence among young Filipinos (13-15 years old) from 19.6% (1,070,000) in 2003 to 27.3% (1,560,000) in 2007.
“Following this trend and without significant changes in other factors affecting smoking behavior, the Commission projects that last 2011, smoking incidence among teens aged 13-15 was 38.2% (2,250,000),” declared by NYC Chairperson Leon Flores III.
Flores emphasized that the commission is concerned that the youth have been the new targets of tobacco companies because of longer life span to spend more years in smoking than older smokers.
Flores also pointed out the role of NYC is to protect the youth from vices and acts that will destroy their future.
NYC Commissioner Percival Cendaña on the other hand stressed that very minimal increases in tax in 2005 and 2007 were ineffective in curbing smoking among the youth.
“Recent studies noted that tobacco products are very affordable and accessible to the youth under the present exercise tax rates. In a recent survey conducted by the University of the Philippines Communication Research Society (UP-CRS) with the support of Health Justice, it was found out that 60% of the sample population will quit smoking if cigarettes will be priced at 5 pesos per stick,” Cendaña said.
Flores and Cendaña believed that raising the price of cigarettes will definitely curb smoking among young people.
The commission recognizes the need to strengthen the imposition of the current ban on selling tobacco products to minors.
The commission also calls for the passage of House Bill 5727 (Restructuring Excise Tax on Alcohol and Tobacco) to significantly increase tobacco prices and make it less accessible to the youth as well as generate more funds for a universal health care system in the country.
NYC’s campaign against teen smoking is supported by Action for Economic Reform (AER), Student Council Alliance of the Philippines (SCAP) and TV personality and Chef Carlo Gonzalez. (Jandel Posion)
No comments:
Post a Comment