On May 16, 2017 President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Philippine Executive Order 26 which widely known as the "Nationwide Smoking Ban" This prohibit Filipinos from smoking in all considered public areas.
Photo Credit: Google Image, GMA News TV
According to the data given by the Philippine Statistic Authority which was based on the 2009 (GATS) Global Adult Tobacco Survey, twenty percent or 17.3 million of Filipino adults ranging from 15 years of age and above are affected by this new executive order that had took effect last July 22, 2017.
Now, in this effect there is always be a division of point of views in this matter although in my personal opinion it is more favourable to the pros than cons. Lets start numbering them down.
WHAT ARE THE PROs
● A HEALTHIER AND PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT
√ Well first on our list is the healthcare of the people, as we all know for a fact that smoking cigarrete is one of the major causes of deadly diseases like cancer. Prohibiting people from this will lessen the number of cases of people suffering from these life killer.
√ The healthier a human being the more productive they can be both physically and mentally.
● LESSER SECONDHAND SMOKE
√ Well this is a great news for people who does not smoke cigarrete and doing their best to live a healthier life but cannot avoid going through a mass of smokers on their way going to work or school. They no longer need to wear mask while walking nd endure the difficulty of holding their breath while passing though.
● CLEANER AND FRESHER AIR
√ Cigarrete smoking is one of the major contributor to air pollution and having the smoking ban taken effect atleast we can live and breath a less polluted Philippine atmosphere most especially in the metro.
● COST REDUCTION
√ I personally find it really effective when it comes to bugetting. It came to my realization that I am spending alot for this leisure before when I was still smoking. Now I started to save more and spend it into more important matters. In a bigger sense those areas that they have dedicated for smoking before can be converted now into more productive and efficient facilities.
WHAT ARE THE CONs
Well there is only two things that I would like to point out as the negative effect of putting the Nationwide Smoking Ban in place here in the Philippines.
● It will greatly affect the Tobacco industry here in the Philippines it will greatly cause the profit to decrease which will lead to a price increase on thin commodity. It might also cause unemployment sooner or later.
● The revenue that the government is earning from this industry will also be highly affected.
ANALYSIS
Clearly that this is a good move of the Philippine government as it provides alot of benefits more to the list that we have written down. I, personally agreed that it is time now to take some real actions and push the bad habit away for the welfare of healthy environment for our future. There will be a possibility that this industry here in the Philippines will dried out but in a more healthier and productive environment that we have I strongly agrees that it will compesate greatly.