Dycoco, F. C. (2016). Creating strategies for an effective anti-smoking program in the municipality of San Antonio, Northern Samar (Unpublished master's thesis). Graduate School of Public and Development Management, Development Academy of the Philippines.

Graduate School of Public and Development Management Health Systems and Development Batch 6 Thesis (MPM-HSD)--Development Academy of the Philippines.

Tobacco is the only legal drug that kills many of its users. It is responsible for the death of an estimated six million people, 600,000 of whom are secondhand smokers. Organizations have established measures to control tobacco use in the world, such as the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control conducted by the World Health Assembly. In the Philippines, the Department of Health and non government organization have devised programs and studies to address this global problem. Despite these efforts, tobacco remains to be burden. Moreover, the effect of tobacco smoking not only affect the users but also those exposed to its environmental smoke. This project aims to strengthen the existing anti smoking local ordinance in the Municipality of San Antonio, Northern Samar by studying the status of the policy implementation, assessing the demographic and psychological profiles of identified active smokers, and formulation of strategies based on the recognized needs. Through direct interviews, it was determined that no implementation has been made since the passage of the anti smoking ordinance in the municipality. A number of reasons have been identified, such as the absence of advocacy and its non translation to administrative directives. The study also identified 82 active smokers in two barangays of the municipality, and assessed their demographic and psychosocial profiles. The data showing that majority of the smokers initiated the act in their adolescence, with peer pressure as the major influence, and the presence of a health condition being the motivation for them to quit smoking, distinguish the predictors of smoking initiation that will be used in the formulation of a tailor fit smoking cessation program. The goal of this project is to minimize the secondhand smoke exposure in the municipality. Furthermore, the success of this project will provide an opportunity to redevelop health systems policies that have not been instigated because of gaps in governance and advocacy.