DepEd celebrates No Smoking Month
By: ERWINA S. BERNADES
Teacher III
Ong Yiu Central Elementary School
Butuan City
The Department of Education (DepEd) shall observe the 2019 National No Smoking Month Celebration every month of June.
The celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 183, s. 1993 entitled “Declaring the Month of June of Every Year as National No Smoking Month.”
This year, DepEd shall focus on promoting the implementation of DepEd Order No. 48, s. 2016 entitled “Policy and Guidelines on Comprehensive Tobacco Control” in all schools and DepEd offices.
During the celebration, DepEd shall undertake the following activities:
a. Conduct education and information drive to raise awareness on the harms of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, tobacco control policies, and tactics of the tobacco industry, through creative endeavors, lectures, seminars, and projects involving the participation of students;
b. Conduct advocacy campaign activities, such as: promoting the implementation of comprehensive tobacco control policies and promoting awareness among stakeholders including parents, visitors in school grounds, and retailers in the 100-meter perimeter of the school; conducting awareness-raising activities to warn against smoking, to promote healthy lifestyles, and to circumvent tobacco control measures, to glamorize smoking, and to downplay or deny the addictive, harmful nature of tobacco products; and putting up signage indicating that the school or office is a smoke-free zone in prominent and strategic locations within the school and DepEd premises.
The regional offices, schools division offices, and all public and private elementary and high and junior and senior high schools are enjoined to organize educational and social activities to promote awareness. ###
