A tobacco quitting contest with cash prizes has been launched by the Department of Health (DOH), the Lung Center of the Philippines (LCP), and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Philippines for smokers and vapers nationwide.
The contest, called "Stop and Gain: A Quit and Win Tobacco Cessation Contest," is open to smokers and vapers of all ages who have started quitting from either July 2022 or February 2023 and will commit until the end of the event.
Interested participants may register starting Tuesday, Aug. 8, until Oct. 31, at the registration form posted on ASH Philippines' Facebook page.
They will need to be verified by cessation staff from DOH or local cessation clinics to ensure the legitimacy of their quitting before being able to join the contest.
Winners will be selected via a raffle draw to be announced on Nov. 22, and each grand winner from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao will receive 5,000, while a consolation prize of 1,000 awaits the province with the highest number of registrants.
There is a minimum of 100 participants per local government unit (LGU), and the LGU with the most participants, as well as barangay health workers and cessation staff, will also receive citations and recommendations.
ASH Philippines Executive Director Maria Encarnita B. Limpin, in her speech, said that participants may use nicotine replacement therapy such as gums and patches during the contest duration, as long as they remain committed to quitting.
The involved agencies also expressed optimism that the initiative can encourage more smokers to quit and that this project can be continued in the future, given sufficient logistics.
Government actions to assist smokers in quitting
The health department has two main programs for assisting smokers and vapers on their journey to becoming smoke-free: online training for healthcare providers and the establishment of more cessation clinics across the country.
They can also dial DOH's national quitline, based at the LCP compound, at 1558 for assistance.
LCP Smoking Cessation Program Director Dr. Glynna Ong Cabrera stressed that having a solid support system can be a significant motivation for those planning to quit.
It will also be helpful if they decide on a specific day when they will start, fight withdrawal symptoms as best as they can, drink plenty of water, do deep breathing exercises, delay and distract themselves from temptations, keep themselves busy, and pray.
According to the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, there are 15.1 million, or one in five, Filipino adults aged 15 and above who are tobacco users.