A total of 67 cigarette smokers in the city who wanted to kick the habit have completed the “sessions” to make them “clean” as the city government drums up its campaign to make the city smoke-free.

Councilor Joel Alangsab, chairman of the city council committee on health, authored the anti-smoking ordinance passed in 2017 and was fully implemented in 2018.

The provisions in the measure include prohibiting smoking which includes vaping in public places; and selling per stick to prevent children from being able to buy them easily, among others.

Alangsab on Tuesday said the participants undergo a 12-week smoke-cessation program where their first goal is not to smoke a cigarette.

The councilor said 60 of the participants are male and the rest are female. The youngest is 16 years old while the oldest is already 67.

He said interested individuals who want to avail of the service may send a message to the city’s Smoke-Free Office at the Health Services Office or personally visit the office for initial counseling.

He said the profile of the participants of the smoke-cessation program is composed of call center agents, “pony boys”, barangay officials, drivers and even members of the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) who are tasked to implement the Smoke-Free ordinance of the city.

The official said the city is serious in implementing the ordinance for the protection of the public.

“Aside from apprehending violators, the goal is to help smokers quit smoking,” he said.

Alangsab said the city government through the Smoke-Free Baguio office has purchased PHP170,000 worth of nicotine pastilles that are given free to quitters. The fund was obtained from the penalties collected under the Smoke-Free Baguio Ordinance.

He said there are also “momma” (beetle nut) users who are enrolled in the program. It has been observed that several smokers also use momma as an alternative if they cannot smoke.

He said cigarette and tobacco smokers can also avail of services that can be availed by tobacco quitters.

“There is the national toll-free quitline 1558 and the chatbox support program of the Department of Health and World Health Organization that they can approach if they need to help on quitting,” he said.

He said quitting smoking is challenging especially with the added social and economic stresses brought about by the pandemic.

“If before, we have a saying that ‘quitters are losers’, but with the city’s smoke-free program, it’s ‘quitters are winners’. Be a winner by quitting smoking and vaping for you and your loved ones’ health,” Alangsab said.

Drumming up smoke-free Baguio

With smoking areas and establishments with smoking areas being difficult to find in the city, many smokers are pushed to reduce the habit.

“Pam” (not her real name), 27, a government employee said her parents frown upon her smoking and thus refuses to smoke when at home.

While she frowns upon the strict implementation of the ordinance, she was also glad that she was pushed to cut down and at times even had to skip.

“My expense was reduced. A pack now lasts for a week unlike before when I can finish a pack a day,” she said.

Smoking areas in establishments that are accredited must comply with stringent requirements like being located at least 10 meters away from the building, and it should be outdoors and not part of the establishment.

“This is what we want to strengthen in Baguio — to build adequate support that we hope will be able to help those who would like to quit the deadly habit,” Alangsab said. (PNA)