DepEd intensifies fight vs tobacco

While the celebration of the National No Smoking Month ended in June, the Department’s fight against tobacco continues with the issuance of Department Order No. 48, s. 2016 or the Policy and Guidelines on Comprehensive Tobacco Control.

The said order aims to ensure the effective implementation of a cohesive and comprehensive tobacco control program to promote a healthy environment in and around schools and DepEd offices.

For over a period of more than two decades, the Department has already released a series of issuances on tobacco use and related concerns.

The comprehensive policy put together all these issuances to ensure the strict implementation of these tobacco control policies.

Specifically, the department order facilitates the enforcement of the following policies: absolute smoking bans in schools and DepEd offices; ban on the sale of tobacco products in and within the 100-meter perimeter of schools and the prohibition to sell or distribute tobacco products to minors anywhere; ban on tobacco advertising within the 100-meter perimeter of schools; ban on promotional items for minors; prohibition on the distribution of samples of tobacco products to minors; and ban on tobacco sponsorships of any school activity, and the prohibition on public officials against receiving any form of contribution directly or indirectly from the tobacco industry.

The department order also emphasizes the policy on the protection against tobacco industry interference, through measures such as reporting interactions with the tobacco industry, disclosing interests in the tobacco industry, and refusing or rejecting any offers or contributions from the tobacco industry.

The policy covers public and private schools, as well as school heads and management except where provisions are applicable only to public officials. The guidelines also apply to all DepEd officials.

A full copy of the policy may be downloaded from the DepEd website at http:// www.deped.gov.ph/ orders/do-48-s-2016.