• 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
Invest on health, start the year right
June 20, 2012
Filipinos Among World’s Top Smokers – Survey
June 26, 2012

Philippine government receives ill-famed award from international network

Published by hj on June 25, 2012
Categories
  • Press Release
Tags

The Philippines received unwanted attention from the international community after the Network for the Accountability of Tobacco Transnationals (NATT), a collective of over 100 organizations spanning 50 countries, and Corporate Accountability International, a non-profit organization with over 100,000 individual members world-wide, gave the Philippines’ Inter-agency Committee – Tobacco (IAC-T) a “Marlboro Man” award. The said award is given annually to government agencies perceived to have been compromised by and to have been furthering tobacco industry interests.

 

The IAC-T is the multi-agency committee responsible for the implementation of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. NATT questions the committee membership of Philippine Tobacco Institute, a trade association known to aggressively promote tobacco industry interests.

 

“Activists around the world are calling on tobacco corporations to butt out of public policymaking,” said Gigi Kellett, Challenge Big Tobacco campaign director.

 

This isn’t the first time that the Philippines has received recognition for subverting public health interests in tobacco control.

 

In 2010, the Philippine delegation to the 4th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) was given a “Dirty Ashtray” award by international group Framework Convention Alliance. The delegation reportedly served more as a tobacco industry mouthpiece than as a champion of public health at the said conference.

 

Health advocates aired out their frustration in receiving another shameful award, which for them embodies the wearisome state of tobacco control in the country.

 

“We can’t just keep on ignoring awards like this,” said Alexander Padilla, Department of Health Undersecretary and former delegation head to previous COPs. “Tobacco control is a major component of public health, and we should take it seriously if we want to be taken seriously as a developing country.”

 

“Self control has never been the hallmark of tobacco transnationals. They sell a product that by its very nature kills half its loyal customers. Public health has never been in their agenda and they only sabotage efforts when they try to insinuate themselves,” said Ipat Luna, Senior Legal Adviser of HealthJustice, a public health policy NGO.

 

“It’s upsetting to see the tobacco industry having more say in tobacco control than we tobacco victims do,” said Emer Rojas, a throat cancer survivor and President of New Vois Association of the Philippines, a tobacco control advocacy group.

 

“We are about to file a complaint with the IAC-T even though its reputation is tarnished because the tobacco industry is there.” said Cath Maralit, sister of Nino Maralit, a 29 year old father who died last April in in a tobacco promotional drinking game sponsored by Philip Morris held in Puerto Galera. “May justice be served for the death of my brother and the nameless others who may have suffered the same fate.”

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