Ground Report

The World Health Organization came up with the latest survey/study about tobacco consumptions in the South East Asian Region detailing the increasing use of cigarettes among the people of the said region. According to the study, the Philippines is second to Thailand who is the number one tobacco consumer. In the Philippines, 99% of smokers were said to be attracted to the different advertisement of cigarette companies. Other factors that lured people to smoke vary from the different perspective. Majority of the tobacco users are the younger generation partly because of the environment that surrounds them. Although, warnings and preventions are already in place, smokers seem not bothered by the health risk that cigarettes can give. Tobacco companies are reaping millions because the people patronized cigarettes with gusto and just ignore the diseases that could affect them. The Philippines enacted into law Republic Act 9211 or the Tobacco Regulation Act, but unfortunately the power of that law speaks only on paper and bereft of implementing rules. So given the current situation, cigarette smoking will continue and knowingly ignore the health risk it may cause.