• The global tobacco epidemic kills more than 7 million people each your.
• 900,000 of those are non-smoking who die from inhaling second-hand smoke.
• The burden of tobacco-related illnesses and death is worse in low and middle income countries.

You think one stick of your favorite Reds is safe? Think again. Remember that tobacco contains nicotine, which is addictive. Other than bleeding your pockets dry, you will be spending too much time going out of your office to inhale a stick or two, or thinking about inhaling a stick or two.

Tobacco contains more than 7,000 chemicals and at least 70 of those have been proven to cause cancer.

Other than cancer, tobacco use has been shown to cause heart and blood vessel problems. Including:

1. Blood clots
2. Weaknesses in the walls of blood vessels in the brain leading to STROKE
3. Coronary artery disease, including heart attack
4. Erection problems
5. Harm to sperm, leading to infertility
6. Loss of sight
7. Poor wound hearing
8. Lung problems
9. Wrinkles
10. Tooth and gum diseases

“I hate smokers. Many of us do. They endanger the lives of people like us – people who live clean, don’t smoke, exercise, eat right."

Many people share this sentiment. And why not, these smokers are killing us. People who are often around smokers develop higher risks of heart attack and heart diseases, lung cancer, sudden and severe lower respiratory tract reactions, eye, nose and throat infections and others.

Children and infant develop asthma flares, infections of the mouth, throat, sinuses, ears, and lungs, lung damage and even sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Executive Order No. 26, entitled Providing for the Establishment of Smoke-Free Environments in Public and Enclosed Places was issued by President Duterte on 16 May 2017. This EO invoked the Clean Air Act of 1999 and the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 to impose a nationwide smoking ban in all public places in the country. The order imposes an “absolute ban” in schools, gas stations, hospitals, “food preparation areas” and stairwells. The EO 26 also covers existing bans on the sale, distribution and purchase of tobacco products to and from minors as well as restrictions on cigarette advertisements and promotions.

These acts are considered unlawful:

1. Smoking within enclosed public places conveyances, whether stationary or in motion, except in DSAs fully compliant with the requirements of Section 4 of his Order;
2. For persons-in-charge to allow, abet or tolerate smoking in places enumerated in the preceding paragraph, outside of DSAs fully compliant with Section 4 of this Order;
3. For any person to sell, distribute or purchase tobacco products to and from minors. It shall not be a defense for the person selling or distributing that he/she did not know or was not aware of the real age of the minor. Neither shall it be a defense that he/she did not know nor had any reason to believe that the cigarette or any other tobacco product was for the consumption of the minor to whom it was sold;
4. For a minor to smoke, sell or buy cigarettes or any tobacco products;
5. Ordering, instructing or compelling a minor to use, light up, buy, sell, distribute, deliver, advertise or promote tobacco products;
6. Selling or distributing tobacco products in a school, public playground, youth hostels and recreational facilities for minors, including those frequented by minors, or within 100 meters from any point of the perimeter of these places;
7. Placing, posting, displaying or distributing advertisement and promotional materials of tobacco products, such as but not limited to leaflets, posters, display structures and other materials within 100 meters from the perimeter of a school, public playground, and other facilities frequented particularly by minors, hostel and recreational facilities for minors, including those frequented by them, or in an establishment when such establishments or its location is prohibited from selling tobacco products.
8. Placing any form of tobacco advertisement outside of the premises of point-of-sale retail establishments; and
9. Placing any stall, booth, and other displays concerning tobacco promotions to areas outside the premises of point-of-sale locations or adult-only facilities

Executive Order No. 26 imposes fines amounting to 10,000 pesos for violation of the smoking ban. The Philippine National Police and local task forces of each city and municipality have the right to fine the following amounts 

• 500 to 1,000 pesos for the first offense
• 1,000 to 5,000 pesos for the second offense
• 5,000 to 10,000 pesos for the third offense. This will also include revocation of business permits or license to operate of the violating establishments.