Keep our government offices 100% smoke-free.

The Civil Service Commission (CSC) reiterates CSC Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 17, s. 2009 or the Smoking Prohibition Based on 100% Smoke-Free Policy Policy which prohibits smoking in or on the premises, buildings, and grounds of government agencies providing health, education and/or social welfare and development services such as hospitals, health centers, schools, and universities, colleges among others. Designated smoking areas are also not allowed.

The reminder was also made in celebration of the World No Tobacco Day on 31 May of every year. The annual campaign aims to raise awareness on the harmful and deadly effects of tobacco use and second-hand smoke exposure, and to discourage the use of tobacco in any form.

“The Commission is a staunch supporter of tobacco control policies which aim to eliminate cigarette smoking in the workplace and to prevent tobacco companies from interfering with policy-making in the public sector,” said CSC Chairperson Alicia dela Rosa-Bala. She explained that CSC MC 17 is part of the country’s efforts to enforce Article 8 of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which aims to protect the public from the perils of secondhand tobacco smoke. ###