• Who We Are
  • What We Do
    • Research
    • Technical Support and Capacity Building
    • Communications Support
    • Partnerships
  • Priority Issues
    • Tobacco Taxation
    • Smoke-Free Environment
    • E-cigarette Regulation
    • Tobacco Industry Monitoring
    • NCD Prevention And Control
  • Resources
    • Videos
    • News and Insights
    • Infographics and Fact Sheets
  • Get Involved
    • Connect With Us
    • Join Our Team
Health advocates to lawmakers: Be wary when dealing with the tobacco industry
October 19, 2012
Health advocates to PMFTC: Suspending Carabuena does not ‘clean up’ your act
October 22, 2012

NGOs funded by Bloomberg slam Recto’s assault: Don’t blame us for working to save Filipino lives

Published by hj on October 20, 2012
Categories
  • Press Release
Tags

16 October 2012. Manila, Philippines –- After declaring himself as the “national punching bag of the week,” Senator Ralph Recto receives more blows of criticism from the civil society for attacking health and human rights groups funded by Mayor Bloomberg of New York City.

 

In his privilege speech yesterday, Senator Recto pointed out that ‘groups received lobby money from the foundation funded by the Mayor Bloomberg of New York City with the marching order to agitate for the imposition of New York City tax rates’ have cried foul.

 

“Casting malice over good work is an act of despair,” states Evita Ricafort of public health policy NGO HealthJustice. “Recto singled out Mayor Bloomberg as a funding source but didn’t say New York City’s lung cancer rates have dropped dramatically.  He wants to “help” consumers by providing affordable access to an addictive product that kills? That’s hardly good for consumers and is far from public service.

 

On the Senate floor yesterday, Senator Pia Cayetano acknowledged the tobacco control programs of the Bloomberg Initiative worldwide and recofnized that the Philippines, being a poor country, should welcome much-needed assistance from international organizations. The Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use is an effort implemented by no less than the World Health Organization, the health arm of the United Nations system, of which the Philippines is a member.

 

Recto’s speech is not the only time that a politician has argued against funding for tobacco control. Legislators like Rep. Mitos Magsaysay, Rep. Eric Singson, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile have often been critical of such grants for both NGOs and government agencies. Yet they have not questioned lobbying efforts by the industry.  Under the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, the Philippines is obligated to shield public health policy from the influence of the industry which stands to gain from the addiction of more and more people.

 

“We thank Recto for resigning and withdrawing his report but he needs to realize that tobacco industry lobbyists are the problem and not Mayor Bloomberg who is only helping the Philippines and not gaining anything from it,” states Engr. Emer Rojas of New Vois Association of the Philippines, a group of cancer survivors and persons with disabilities actively lobbying for tobacco tax reform.

 

Also in his privilege speech, Recto said he cannot see how raising taxes at an optimum will bring in the revenue that the government is targeting while decreasing the number of smokers at the same time. But he also refused to meet with health expert Dr. Prakit Vathesatogkit, former Senator of Thailand, who sent him a graph of their experience where cigarette sales volumes have stayed put while revenues successfully quadrupled over the last 22 years. Instead, he alludes that if health is really the goal, cigarettes should be banned altogether.

 

“This part, Recto got right: banning cigarettes would be the best thing our government can do. Kung seryoso siyang naniniwalang nakakamatay ito, ipanukala niya ang total ban kesa gamitin ang argumento laban sa tamang buwis.  Pero aasahan pa ba natin sa kanya yun kung buwis nga hindi nya maitaas ng husto?  ” states Fr. Robert Reyes, known public health and tobacco control activist. “Huwag tayong maglokohan. You’re either for the Filipino people or private profit.”

Share
0

Related posts

January 25, 2023

House bill seeking to hike excise tax on e-cigarettes gains support


Read more
December 8, 2022

Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise and prevent lung cancer—expert


Read more
December 8, 2020

Public health advocates alarmed as PH ranking slips in Global Tobacco Control Report


Read more

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube
  • A healthy lifestyle is key to a healthy heart

    A healthy lifestyle is key to a healthy heart

    February 23, 2023
  • House bill seeking to hike excise tax on e-cigarettes gains support

    House bill seeking to hike excise tax on e-cigarettes gains support

    January 25, 2023
  • Higher taxes for ‘sin’ goods urged

    Higher taxes for ‘sin’ goods urged

    December 31, 2022
  • Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise and prevent lung cancer—expert

    Stop smoking, eat healthy, exercise and prevent lung cancer—expert

    December 8, 2022
  • 2021 TOBACCO INDUSTRY<br>INTERFERENCE INDEX

    2021 TOBACCO INDUSTRY<br>INTERFERENCE INDEX

    October 19, 2022
  • Smoking is tied to more aggressive form of prostate cancer–study

    Smoking is tied to more aggressive form of prostate cancer–study

    August 22, 2022

HealthJustice is a public health think tank that aims to bridge the gap between health and law to empower Filipinos to make healthy choices. The founding members of HealthJustice include doctors, lawyers, and economists who have been recognized for their services in both the private and public sector.

Our Partners

  • World Health Organization
  • Department of Health
  • Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
  • Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
  • Global Center for Good Governance
  • NCD Alliance

Contact Us

  • Room 106-B Philippine Social Science Center Commonwealth Avenue Diliman, Quezon City
  • (+632) 8709 7503
  • info@healthjustice.ph
  • healthjustice.ph@gmail.com

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube

HealthJustice is a public health think tank that aims to bridge the gap between health and law to empower Filipinos to make healthy choices. The founding members of HealthJustice include doctors, lawyers, and economists who have been recognized for their services in both the private and public sector.

Our Partners

  • World Health Organization
  • Department of Health
  • Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
  • Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids
  • Global Center for Good Governance
  • NCD Alliance

Contact Us

  • Room 106-B Philippine Social Science Center
    Commonwealth Avenue Diliman, Quezon City
  • (+632) 8709 7503
  • info@healthjustice.ph
  • healthjustice.ph@gmail.com

Follow Us

Facebook Twitter Youtube

Copyright © | HealthJustice Philippines | All Rights Reserved