Former government officials urge DOH, CSC, DSWD to stand by good governance principles vs tobacco interests

Former senior government officials joined the call on the government agencies to uphold good governance and reject donations from the tobacco industry.

Former officials of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) remained steadfast that good governance must prevail through the DOH-CSC Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2010-001 JMC which seeks to protect the bureaucracy from tobacco industry interests.

The former officials were CSC Chairperson Corazon Alma De Leon, CSC Chairperson and DOH Secretary Dr. Francisco Duque III, CSC Commissioner Mary Ann Fernandez Mendoza, and DSWD and DOH Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral, and DOH Undersecretary Medeleine Valera. The JMC at issue was issued by then CSC Chairperson Duque and Health Secretary Cabral.

Their response was to call out the Department of Justice (DOJ) legal opinion over the JMC, which upheld the prohibition on accepting tobacco industry donations as far as officers or employees are concerned, but exempted government agencies and institutions.

“Civil service rules could not distinguish the agency actions from the actions of its officers or employees. Otherwise, who will be made accountable for violation of civil service rules if we accept the [DOJ] interpretation? It goes against the principle that public office is a public trust,” said Mary Ann Fernandez Mendoza, former CSC Commissioner and current President of HealthJustice.

Mendoza also urged the current leadership of the CSC and the DOH, as well as the DSWD to which the DOJ’s legal opinion was addressed, that they stand their ground against tobacco industry interference.

“Alam namin ang donasyon nila ay kakarampot kumpara sa ginagastos ng gobyerno sa mga sakit na dala ng sigarilyo, na nasa 400 billion pesos. I believe that the most principled course of action lies in [Social Welfare] Secretary [Rex] Gatchalian’s hands. I earnestly hope and pray that he chooses to decline the donations of the tobacco industry. Such a magnanimous decision would undoubtedly catalyze significant advancement in fortifying and consolidating respect for the JMC,” Mendoza said.

Meanwhile, Former CSC Chairperson Dr. Francisco Duque III cautioned that the government will not be able to do its job of protecting Filipinos health if it accepts donations from the tobacco industry.

Duque said, “The government cannot effectively do its job of warning the public of the dangers of tobacco use, which includes among others, cancers, lung and heart diseases, when at the same time, it is accepting their donations and assistance with open arms. The government should have no part in tobacco companies’ public relations strategies to enhance their image and promote their interests. The interests of public health and the tobacco industry are so fundamentally irreconcilable that it is imperative to protect our policymakers and government institutions alike from conflicts of interest so that they can freely decide on what is best for the health of Filipinos.”

In addition, former DOH Secretary Dr. Esperanza Cabral warned that government agencies who will accept donations risk becoming equally culpable in the damage to citizens and children’s health due to tobacco products and vapes, citing that every year, 100,000 Filipinos die due to tobacco consumption.

“The government, by taking tobacco money, allows itself to be manipulated and supports the manipulation of the public, specifically the youth who are the target of the tobacco industry as their replacement users. Acceptance of donations makes the government complicit in this disaster. The DSWD should reject any partnerships and donations from the tobacco industry. It should maintain its progressive policies of banning the acceptance of donations and rejection of partnerships with the tobacco industry,” Cabral stressed.

END