Tobacco is one of the leading risk factors for non-communicable diseases resulting in ten Filipinos dying every hour from tobacco-related diseases. Studies have also shown that there is an alarming increase in the prevalence of smoking among the youth. This is according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 2015 which found that 12% of students 13 to 15 years of age are currently smoking cigarettes, an increase from 8.9% in 2011. At present, three out of ten adults in the Philippines are smokers.
For World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2016, WHO and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) are calling countries to get ready for plain (standardized) packaging of tobacco products. Plain packaging is an important demand reduction measure that reduces the attractiveness of tobacco products, restricts use of tobacco packaging as a form of tobacco advertising and promotion, limits misleading packaging and labelling, and increases the effectiveness of health warnings.
Earlier this year, cigarette packs in the Philippines were prohibited from featuring misleading descriptions (e.g. “low tar”, “light”, “ultra-light”) that might mislead a consumer to believe that a tobacco product brand is healthier, safer or less harmful. And by 4 November, a Philippine law requiring manufacturers to display graphic health warnings on cigarette packs will be fully implemented. The “Act to Effectively Instill Health Consciousness through Graphic Health Warnings” was another milestone for the Philippines following the law raising tobacco taxes signed in 2012.
“We congratulate the Philippines for making great strides in the implementation of Graphic Health Warnings and on the recent move to prohibit misleading packaging.” said Dr Gundo Weiler, WHO Country Representative in the Philippines. “These visible pictures that target those who smoke and those who are interested to smoke are very important and incredibly instrumental in making them understand the fact that smoking kills. A person who smokes one pack a day will be exposed to these warnings roughly around 7 000 times a year–a powerful reminder to quit smoking for their own health and their loved ones. Let’s support those who have the courage and quit.”
Alexander de las Alas Padilla, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation was given the 2016 World No Tobacco Day Award for Western Pacific Region in recognition of his outstanding efforts while chairing the committee that drafted the Implementing Rules and regulations of RA 10643. Atty. Padilla also actively represents the Philippines in the Conference of the Parties to the WHO FCTC and its working groups.
“World No Tobacco Day is also a day for us to recognize the extraordinary efforts of individuals and member states to end tobacco use. We continue to work closely with the Government of the Philippines and strongly support their pioneering work in the country”, said Dr Gundo Weiler.