Groups back warning on cigarettes

Non-government groups are up in arms against tobacco companies and those representing their interest for their shameless attempts to undermine the campaign being waged by the Department of Health to warn the public of the hazards of smoking.

The Coalition for Health Accountability and Transparency called on the tobacco companies not to block the Health department order requiring the use of graphic health information on cigarette packs.

“So far, they have questioned the DoH’s competence and authority as well as the legality of the Health administrative order 2010-001  which requires graphic health information and prohibits misleading descriptors on tobacco product packages,” the coalition said in a statement.

Instead of questioning and protesting the issuance, the coalition urged tobacco companies to respect the Philippine government and the Filipino people in the same way that they respect other countries governments and people.

They also urged lawmakers to withdraw support from the tobacco industry’s plan to nullify the AO.

“Policy makers should not act to promote industry interests and protect tobacco industry profits at the expense of the Filipino’s health,” the coalition said.

“We ask the DoH Secretary to stand firm and not to give in to the demands of the profit-driven tobacco industry to withdraw the AO,” it added.

The coalition cited that at present, these same companies questioning the AO have  already placed graphic information on cigarette packs they export to Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia.

“The Filipinos deserve no less,” said CHAT as it noted that at least 10 Filipinos die every hour from tobacco-related diseases. This is aggravated by the lack of compelling information on the toxic and poisonous contents and emissions of tobacco products.

By requiring the placement of visible and full color pictures and health information on tobacco product packages, the coalition stressed that the DoH succeeds in effectively communicating the health risks of smoking to those sectors of the populace that are most vulnerable to the deceptive appeal of cigarettes—the youth.

“It likewise aired its support to the community of lawyers’ and legal experts’ recognition of the DoH’s authority to issue the Administrative Order.

“The AO was issued in compliance with the mandatory requirements of a treaty.  Any government act of backing off from it would be tantamount to telling the world that the Philippines does not care about treaties it signs nor does it care about the health of our people.” –Macon Araneta, Manila Standard Today