The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Social Watch Philippines (SWP) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in a bid to shift to high gear the two parties’ "aggressive” campaign for a smoke-free Philippines.

The signing of MOA on May 31, Monday, marked the full involvement of DepEd in the Philippine Smoke-Free Movement (PSFM), SWP’s multi-sectoral and disciplinary social advocacy and legislative platform against smoking.

The DepEd said it officially joined the SWP’s PSFM "to further champion the advocacy of a smoke-free Philippines among youth and personnel."

"Responsibilidad namin ang 26million na mga bata at saka halos isang milyong teachers. (We are responsible for 26 million children and almost one million teachers). It's more than just banning smoking vaping in our premises so we also have to educate our learners," Education Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones said in her message during the ceremonial signing of the pact.

She expressed hopes that the agency’s partnership with SWP will become “fruitful”, and they could fulfill their ambition that all schools and offices will become “100-percent smoke-free.”

The MOA between the DepEd and SWP, a network of a hundred civil society organizations (CSOs) advocating for transparent, efficient, accountable and pro-poor use of public funds, coincided with the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).

The PSFM aims to carry legislative and executive actions in furtherance and strengthening of tobacco-control measures to protect the children and youth, and other vulnerable sectors of society, the DepEd cited.

The PSFM is expected to implement program that would promote a smoke-free environment as contained in the proposed "New Normal for the Workplace and Public Spaces Act of 2020”.

"This partnership will strengthen both parties' mechanisms and resources to achieve 100-percent smoke-free schools, homes, and communities by bolstering advertisements against smoking and by the removal of indoor designated cigarette, vapes, and e-cigarette smoking areas,” SWP convenor Jessica Cantos said.

Following the signing of the MOA, the DepEd is expected to ensure the full-blown implementation of DepEd Order No. 42, s. 2012 or the Child Protection Policy through the institutionalization of Tobacco-Free Universities and Schools (TOFUS).

Undersecretary for Administration Alain Del Pascua cited the importance of partnership between the DepEd and SWP to support their aggressive campaign against smoking.

"It is the bigger goal to create a generation that is free from tobacco and second-hand smoke, and it begins with educating our youth and raising their awareness of the realities of tobacco use," he said.

Under the agreement, both parties committed "to work together in conducting continuous public information drive on the dangers of second and third-hand smoke and developing learning resources on comprehensive tobacco control and smoke-free environments for use at all levels, aligned with the K to 12 Curriculum.”

During the WNTD celebration, the DepEd was also involved in the following programs: Polytechnic University of the Philippines' (PUP) Tobacco-Free University and Schools; Itanong Kay Dok of the Department of Health (DOH), and ImagineLaw; Leaving Our Vices Behind of PUP; and Youth Against Smoking of SDSN Youth Philippines Coalition.