The first two years of having graphic health warnings in cigarette packs have proven to be successful, health advocacy group New Vois Association of the Philippines said.
NVAP president Emer Rojas said the main purpose of Republic Act No. 10643 or the GHW Law has been achieved in both informing would-be smokers and warning current smokers on the dangers of cigarette smoking.
“We are now seeing less smokers and those who are just looking to start smoking hesitating in lighting up cigarettes and puffing them,” said Rojas.
“It goes to show that people are now more aware on the ills caused by smoking as they can see from the GHWs,” he added.
Data from the Department of Health showed the smoking prevalence in the country now stood at 23 percent, lower than the 29 percent posted in 2009.
The first batch of 12 GHWs were rolled out in the local market in March 2016.
The law, however, provides that a new batch of picture warnings must be printed out every two years.
Last year, the DoH came out with the new templates, with one showing a female throat cancer survivor, who is also a member of NVAP.
Rojas said civil society organizations should also do their part in ensuring compliance of tobacco manufacturers.
“Anti-smoking groups, including New Vois, will be doing our part in ensuring that the GHW law is not being disregarded in the streets, but rather maximize effectiveness and its gains sustained,” he said.
“We call on tobacco companies to ensure compliance with the law. It calls for a new batch of templates every two years to sustain its effectiveness by maintaining public interest. We expect that the new batch of pictures will start coming out in the market any time now,” Rojas added.