25 February 2017:
Cardiologists of the Manila Medical Center (Manila Med) and Philippine Heart Association (PHA) joined medical communities and health advocates in calling on President Rodrigo Duterte to sign as soon as possible the executive order on zero smoking in public areas.
Cigarettes contain more than 7,000 different chemicals, of which 70 are known to be carcinogenic, the researchers said, pointing to the complexity of how smoke interacts with the body (AFP Photo/Noel Celis) / MANILA BULLETIN
“On behalf of the Medical Center Manila, Philippine Heart Association, and of course, all the health care providers, we appeal to President Duterte to expedite the implementation or the filing of the EO that controls cigarette smoking,” said Dr. Jorge Sison, chairman of the cardiology department of Manila Med.
Sison noted the importance of the order in reducing the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
“We appeal to the President to have it implemented by signing it into a law,” the cardiologist said.
A nationwide ban on smoking in public places was one of the campaign promises of President Duterte back in May last year.
The “smoke-free Philippines” EO that the President has yet to sign has been patterned after Davao City’s Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance that was enacted when he was mayor of the city.
Meanwhile, the PHA reminded the public of the numbers 52100, which stands for five servings of vegetables and fruits a day: maximum of two hours gadgets use; one hour of vigorous activity; zero sugary beverages; and zero smoking.
Smoking not only leads to heart disease and various forms of cancers; it also contributes to air pollution, the association said.
Source: http://news.mb.com.ph/2017/02/25/cardiologists-call-on-duterte-to-sign-eo-on-smoking-ban/
