The Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (GATC) has awarded the notorious “Dirty Ashtray” to the Philippine delegation for its statements that are inclined to favor the tobacco industry and interpellators that obstructed the agenda of the 10th Conference of Parties (COP10) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The award is a public shaming tool that calls out countries influenced by lobbying from the tobacco industry, especially when their public officials or governments accept, support, or endorse policies or legislation in collaboration with cigarette manufacturers.
The sizable Philippine government delegation at COP10 in Panama City had more than 30 officials and staff from agencies like the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office, National Tobacco Administration, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Education, Department of Health, and Food and Drug Administration, among others.
Joining the party was 1-Sagip party list Rep. Dante Marcoleta, one of the primary sponsors of Republic Act No. 11900, or the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act of 2022.
The Philippine delegation claimed “notable progress” in implementing the WHO FCTC – a global health treaty ratified by 183 parties to address the global tobacco epidemic and uphold the people’s right to the highest standard of health, highlighting the result of the Global Adult Tobacco Survey where significant decrease in tobacco use from 23.8 percent in 2015 to 19.5 percent in 2021.
However, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) and former health and education officials, noted that the drop in smoking prevalence in the country was “a result of the sin tax law reforms beginning in 2012,” and not RA11900.
Health advocates also criticized the law as it made e-cigarettes or vapes and heated tobacco products more accessible to the youth by lowering the age of access from 21 to 18 years old. It also transferred the regulation of such tobacco products from the “pro-health” FDA, an agency under the DOH, to “pro-tobacco” DTI.
The back-to-back Dirty Ashtray awards received by the country belies what is happening behind the words of our government officials, especially when put under the microscope. It indicates that the Philippine delegation has been seen as a willing mouthpiece of a harmful and duplicitous industry.
With another Dirty Ashtray, it would seem like the international community has uncovered the motivations behind our government policies when it comes to tobacco control. The question becomes: is that fine with Filipinos or are we going to have to subject our government officials to the same scrutiny and public shaming so they will do the right thing and defend public interests over vested interests?*
