Chiz quits smoking, for Heart & heart

In 2008, 31 percent of Filipinos 20 and above smoked cigarettes. After an intensive anti-smoking campaign, and prohibitive “sin” taxes, the figure has dropped to 25.4 percent, or a drop of about six percent.

According to published sources, in 2012, of the 600-million population in the ASEAN, 127 million are smokers. The Philippines ranked second in the number of smokers (Indonesia ranked first).

Two prominent Filipinos — Executive Secretary Jojo Ochoa and Sen. Francis Escudero — are among the six percent who quit.

Escudero, according to Health Secretary Enrique Ona at last Tuesday’s Bulong Pulungan at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza, has even agreed “to be the anti-smoking poster boy.” Ona added that the newly-engaged senator (actress Heart Evangelista accepted his marriage proposal over the weekend) is also into an exercise regimen.

Oh, what love can do!

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Ona  and PCSO general manager and acting chairman Jose Ferdinand “Joy” Rojas II were guests at the forum.

They announced a partnership to help liver transplant patients, with the PCSO to shoulder P1.5 million in the cost of the transplant, and the National Kidney and Transplant Institute to shoulder a corresponding amount. 

Rojas also announced that from P4.5 million a day, the PCSO now shells out P16 million a day to help indigent and cash-strapped patients. The increase in support for the needy was made possible by “increase in revenues and savings” by the PCSO under the Aquino administration. That’s why Rojas urged the public to continue supporting the lotto and other projects of the PCSO.

He also announced that starting Sept. 8, the PCSO would be coming home to its San Marcelino office in Manila. To decongest the crowds at the Lung Center of the Philippines in Quezon City, where people needing PCSO assistance line up, the PCSO will decentralize its services.

The Department of Health and the PCSO will launch soon a five-year full scholarship program for medical students from the provinces, provided they serve their barrios for a minimum of 10 years after graduation.

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Ona also proudly announced that 100 percent of the country’s poorest of the poor (especially those subsisting on P5,000 a month for a family of five) are covered by PhilHealth.

No baby can also be withheld by any hospital even without full payment of its mother’s delivery expenses. No hospital can also demand down payment for emergency services. “No government hospital is doing this,” Ona confidently said. There are some 72 major DOH hospitals in the Philippines.

To this, Rojas added that no hospital can also withhold the remains of a patient even if the latter has unpaid bills, “as long as there is a funeral parlor willing to take the remains.” But the hospital has the right not to issue a death certificate until full settlement of the bills.

Ona said the DOH’s budget has been increased to P37.8 billion, from P35 billion. He urged the private sector to be supportive of the government’s efforts to keep the population healthy. The Philippines has a relatively young population, with so-called seniors comprising just a small segment.

So this means a lot of people are still of marrying age. Like Chiz Escudero, they just have to take care of their heart!

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