Kalinga health office encourages tobacco vendors, growers to sell something good for health instead

Tabuk City, Kalinga - Tobbaco has long been one of the crops grown in Kalinga, but its harmful effects on both human health and the environment cannot be overlooked.

Such reason urged Kalinga Provincial Health Office, with various national line agencies and other sectors, to stay committed in promoting a healthier environment to the residents through anti-smoke ordinances.

It is without a doubt that the program will affect the livelihood of the tobacco sellers and raisers in the province, but this issue was given answers by Kalinga Provincial Health Officer Edward Tandingan during the Dissemination Forum of Kalinga Adults Tobacco 2023 Survey on Wednesday, August 12 at the Grand Zion hotel in Bulanao, Tabuk City.

Tandingan explained that one of the alternatives that the residents can do is to replace tobacco products with something that are also in demand and, at the same time, products that can contribute to good health.

As for the tobacco growers, Tandingan encouraged them to plant other crops, where they can earn more than what tobacco gives, those crops that are mostly nutritious.

“What they earn from tobacco is much lesser than if they would use another method or plant other agricultural crops that are in demand and are good for the health,” said Tamdingan.

“We are very good at raising mais, we are good at raising rice … hahanap tayo ng other agricultural strategies which is something much bigger in terms of production even in terms of nutrition versus tobacco na wala talaga siyang nutritional value “ he added.