A non-government organization composed of women joined Wednesday other civil society groups in criticizing the tobacco industry for continuously luring more women into smoking.

The Woman Health Philippines said that tobacco companies are “putting the lives of Filipino women, most especially the young, in danger.’’

“More young women will be convinced to embrace this addiction if the government fails to decisively act and prevent the tobacco industry from further victimizing our young children. The government cannot afford to stay at the sidelines while the industry continues to prey on our children,” Ana Maria R. Nemenzo, Woman Health Philippines National Coordinator, said in a statement.

Last week, a lawyers’ group also called on the Department of Health (DoH) to implement stricter rules against tobacco use and advertising.

The group revealed that young Filipino women who use any tobacco product comprise 19.6 percent of the total respondents of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey in 2007.

In 2003, young Filipino women comprised 13 percent of the total respondents of the same survey. The increase in the women smokers affected the survey in 2007 where the total figure of smoking youths aged 13 to 15 rose to 30 percent. In 2003, it was only 15 percent. (Jenny F. Manongdo)