In a bid to combat the alarming rise in student smoking and vaping, the Iloilo City Anti-Smoking Task Force (ICAST) is urging schools to enforce stricter regulations and implement comprehensive anti-smoking policies as the new school year approaches.
ICAST Executive Director Iñigo Garingalao said there is an urgent need to address this issue, which has been deemed a significant public health concern. “We need to strengthen regulations in educational institutions to effectively curb this growing problem,” he stated.
The task force’s call to action comes in response to increasing number of students found smoking and using e-cigarettes.
From January to June, ICAST recorded 3,507 violations of the city’s anti-smoking ordinance. This included 600 students and 10 minors, with 751 individuals caught using electronic cigarettes or vapes.
Garingalao emphasized the necessity for schools to extend their awareness campaigns and ensure the apprehension of minors engaging in these activities.
He also highlighted the deceptive nature of some advertisements, which mislead youth into believing that vaping is a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes.
“Last year, many institutions were caught off guard because their policies did not explicitly prohibit vaping. As a result, apprehended students could argue that they weren’t breaking any rules,” Garingalao explained.
Data from the previous year shows that ICAST apprehended 10,725 violators, including 1,513 individuals who were vaping. Among these were 191 students and 16 minors.
Garingalao observed that vaping has become more prevalent, especially among the youth, following the COVID-19 pandemic.
The task force continues to confront challenges in their anti-smoking campaign, which has far-reaching implications for society. These include economic, sociographic, and psychological factors that necessitate a multi-sectoral approach.
ICAST, in collaboration with the Iloilo City Health Office, is advancing its efforts through educational lectures and sharing best practices with institutions. “Our campaign is ongoing, and we are committed to fostering a smoke-free environment for our students and the broader community,” Garingalao said.
This proactive seeks to safeguard the health of young students and promote a culture of awareness and responsibility regarding smoking and vaping. The local government hopes these measures will lead to a significant decrease in the number of student smokers and vapers in Iloilo City.