July 2, 2009
MANILA, Philippines – Nearly half of Filipino students aged 13 to 15 years old have smoked cigarette, and 13.6 percent of those who never smoked are also likely to initiate smoking the following year, according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS) conducted in 2007.
Of the 5,919 Filipino students who participated in the survey, 46.2 percent said they have smoked cigarette. Fifty-eight percent of those who smoke are male while 34 percent are female.
In the western Pacific region, 13 percent of youth currently smoke – one out of five boys and one out of 10 girls.
Dr. Susan Mercado, regional adviser on the Tobacco Free Initiative (TFI) of the World Health Organization Western Pacific Regional Office, attributes campus smoking to several factors, including social considerations and access to the product.
Mercado said 33.1 percent think boys and 19.4 percent think girls who smoke have more friends while 18.2 percent think boys and 15.1 percent think girls who smoke look more attractive.
