THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday assured the public that the country remains committed to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) days after the Philippines was given the “Dirty Ashtray” award during the 10th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP10) in Panama.
In a statement, the DOH said nothing has changed as far as the country’s commitment to tobacco control is concerned.
“We look forward to working with our colleagues from the whole of our government on implementing our international commitments to tobacco control back home,” said Health Undersecretary Dr. Lilibeth David.
“The DOH will lead tobacco control,” said David, who represented the DOH in the Philippine delegation to the COP10 from February 5 to 10.
Foremost among the commitments, said David, is the goal to address concerns regarding the serious risks posed by tobacco to human health and to the environment.
“We joined the consensus of the Parties to address the environmental impacts from the cultivation, manufacture, consumption and waste disposal of tobacco products, including plastic cigarette filters,” David said.
She said the DOH also agrees with the other parties on the need to impose higher taxes on vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products.
“While an absolute ban is best, in countries that regulate vaporized nicotine and non-nicotine products, their excise taxes should be one and the same as those imposed on conventional tobacco products,” said David.
Over the weekend, the civil society smoking watchdog, Global Alliance for Tobacco Control (GATC), awarded the “Dirty Ashtray” award to the Philippine delegation.
The award, which has been won by the Philippines five times, is given to FCTC parties best deemed as acting on behalf of the tobacco industry.
The FCTC is the first international treaty negotiated under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO).
The Philippines signed the FCTC back on September 23, 2003, and ratified it on June 6, 2005.
