House panel okays graphic warnings on cigarette packs

The measure requiring cigarette manufacturers to put graphic health warnings on cigarette packs inched closer to becoming a law on Tuesday after it was approved by the House committee on health.

 

The consolidated bill merging some 11 measures was passed at the committee level after a compromise was reached between graphic warning advocates and tobacco companies regarding the percentage of area that graphic health warnings should occupy on the tobacco product packages.

 

Under one of the original bills filed by Akbayan Reps. Barry Gutierrez and Walden Bello, the percentage of area allotted for graphic warnings should be 85 percent.

 

Representatives from the tobacco industry, however, objected to this and said graphic health warnings should only take up 30 percent of each display panel area.

 

Members of the committee eventually settled on allotting a 40 percent space on the package of tobacco products for the graphic health warning.

           

Passed on 3rd reading next week?

 

Despite the major revision made to the bill, Gutierrez welcomed its passage at the committee level.

 

"While the approved version did not incorporate all the features we originally pushed for, this is still a firm step in the right direction and we are happy that the House Committee on Health was able to reach a consensus on this very important issue," he said in a statement.

 

With the House seen to approve the measure on third reading next week, Gutierrez expressed optimism that the proposed legislation will expose more Filipinos to the dangers of smoking.

 

“We hope [this measure] will lead to greater awareness on the hazards of tobacco use, which, in turn, will contribute to reducing the incidence of cigarette smoking in the country, especially among the Filipino youth," he said.

 

Sen. Pia Cayetano, the principal author of the Senate’s counterpart measure on graphic health warnings on tobacco products, said in an earlier statement she expects the bill to be passed next week by the chamber before Congress adjourns sine die on June 13. -NB, GMA News