Author: Raffy Rico

Health advocate groups welcome the filing of the smoke-free environment bill by Manila City representative John Marvin “Yul Servo” Nieto on February 16, 2021. Groups under the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement, a group of more than 70 civil society organizations, on Friday expressed their support for the bill, saying that its provisions will fill the gaps in RA 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 which the bill is set to supersede once passed. “This bill will create more smoke free environments in more public places and build on the gains of the Executive Order 26 of President Duterte. Further, if passed in to law, it sustain strict implementation of smoke free policies well beyond the term of this administration,” said Atty. Jacky Sarita, Managing Director of Health Justice Philippines, member of the Philippine Smoke Free Movement. In 2017, the President issued EO 26 which mandates comprehensive smoking ban in public places which was widely enforced by the Philippine National Police and many local government units. The EO replicates an ordinance which was passed by President Duterte when he was still the Mayor of Davao City. Congressman Yul Servo said that as a health advocate and a family man, he believes that expanding smoke-free environment must be pursued not only because of the growing threat of Covid-19 which primarily damages the respiratory system but also for the longer term...