Filipino bishops urge nationwide smoking ban

(June 06, 2011) Two Filipino bishops last week joined the anti-tobacco campaign in Metro Manila, saying the smoking ban in public places should be implemented nationwide. In separate interviews on Church-run Radio Veritas, Bishop Jose Oliveros of Malolos, head of the Filipino bishops’ Commission on Bio-Ethics, and Bishop Honesto Ongtioco of Cubao said smoking is harmful not only to smokers but also to non-smokers. On May 30, the eve of World No Tobacco Day, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) started a drive to enforce a smoking ban in public places. People caught smoking in public areas will be penalized. The ban, however, can only be enforced in 16 of the 17 local councils in Metro Manila where there are ordinances penalizing smoking in public places. Bishop Oliveros spoke of the need to protect the health of the public noting children inhale second-hand smoke in parks and people get cancer even if they are not smokers because they get it from the environment. The two bishops also suggested additional taxes on what they called “sin products” like cigarettes and alcoholic beverages to discourage consumption.