ANTI-TOBACCO group, New Vois Association of the Philippines (NVAP), scored Thursday the presence of cigarette vendors just outside school campuses, thereby making them accessible to young students.
In a statement, NVAP president Emer Rojas said it cannot be denied that cigarette products remain accessible to the youth despite government efforts to shield them from it.
"Children smoke because they are influenced by a society that tells them puffing cigarette is cool. Add easy accessibility to the equation and you have a new generation of nicotine addicts that big tobacco will prey on," said Rojas.
Proof of this, he said, is the presence of takatak boys (ambulant vendors) and convenience stores near campuses selling cigarettes.
"While selling cigarettes and smoking inside campuses are strictly prohibited by school officials, students can easily buy them right outside of their school," said Rojas.
Because of this, he said the local government officials must take it upon themselves to protect the youth from the smoking habit.
For its part, the Department of Health (DOH) reminded everyone that selling cigarette outside school campuses is against the law.
"Bawal ang pagbebenta outside the school perimeter e (Selling of cigarettes outside the school perimeter is prohibited). It is provided for by the law that they cannot sell up to 100 meters," said Health Secretary Enrique Ona.
Section 10 of the Republic Act 9211 states that "the sale or distribution of tobacco products is prohibited within 100 meters from any point of the perimeter of a school."
Ona noted that any person or any business entity or establishment caught violating the provision shall be fined the amount of not less than P5,000 or an imprisonment of not more than 30 days. (HDT/Sunnex)