Anti-smoking propaganda campaign kicked off in the Philippines

Eight provinces across the Philippines launched a new campaign to warn people about the risks posed by smoking and, specifically, the risk caused by the tar delivered by cigarettes, according to a World Lung Foundation (WLF) story published in Asian Scientist.

The campaign, called ‘”Sponge”, has aired in more than 10 countries already. Its Philippines version, which was developed by the Department of Health with support from the University of the Philippines and the WLF, was test marketed among focus groups during 2008.

It is said to graphically depict the tar that collects inside an average smoker’s lungs.

It is being made public on television and radio and at outdoor venues for a minimum of four weeks, with some provinces sustaining the campaign for longer.

The eight provinces taking part in Sponge are Misamis Occidental, Capiz, Oriental Mindoro, Agusan del Sur, Nueva Vizcaya, Biliran, Negros Oriental, and Southern Leyte.