MANILA – While the global community is taking strides to curb smoking, the Philippines appears to be moving in the opposite direction, according to Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.
The senator made this observation during a recent Blue Ribbon Committee hearing.
This was in context of the country receiving its fifth “Dirty Ashtray” award.
Senator Pia Cayetano, the first woman to chair the powerful committee, questioned the intentions of the Philippine delegation that attended the 10th session of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
She pointed out that the “Dirty Ashtray” award was given to the Philippines due to the delegation’s “delaying tactics” in implementing Articles 9 and 10 of the FCTC, which mandate full product disclosure and testing measures on tobacco.
The delegation, which included members from the tobacco industry, was accused of “muddling the purpose” of their participation in the conference.
Senator Pia Cayetano questioned, “Kung farmers ang gusto mo proteksyonan, bakit mo pinipigilan y’ung mga Articles (9 and 10) tungkol sa testing at measuring (ng tobacco products)?”
(If you want to protect farmers, why are you preventing the implementation of Articles 9 and 10, which are about testing and measuring tobacco products?)
Senator Alan Cayetano highlighted the tobacco industry’s history of obscuring facts and withholding information on tobacco’s harmful effects, which he said contribute to rising tobacco use, especially among the youth.
He emphasized the need for the country to be consistent in its stand against tobacco, stating, “The problem for me is when we present ourselves as anti-tobacco, but we are pro-tobacco.”
He also pointed out that the country’s tobacco industry benefits only the capitalists and leaves the farmers with a small fraction of the industry’s P160 billion annual earnings.
“Let’s not say we are protecting the farmers here, kasi (because) the farmers only get P1 billion, kulang pa ‘yon (which is not enough),” he said.
Senator Alan Cayetano expressed his desire for a policy that will help farmers, those who will be affected in the industry, and the young people.
“I would like us to have a policy that will help farmers, help those who will be affected in the industry, and the young people,” he said.
This comes as the country grapples with the health and economic impacts of tobacco use.
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