Defending Health Policy and Bureaucracy from Tobacco Industry Interference in Albay Province

A Public Hearing on the proposed Smoke-Free Albay Ordinance held December 9, 2011 at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay.

Good News: DepEd Order on Protecting against Tobacco Industry Interferen​​ce

• http://www.deped.gov.ph/cpanel/uploads/issuanceImg/DO%20No.%2006,%20s.%202012.pdf

  www.deped.gov.ph

FROM: 

ATTY. DEBBY SY, HealthJustice

DR. YUL DOROTHEO, SouthEast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance

Congratulations to the Department of Education for this huge step towards banning all tobacco industry donations to public schools. The recently issued memo adopts the Civil Service Commission and Department of Health (CSC-DOH) Joint Memo to Protect the Bureaucracy against Tobacco Industry Interference. Among others, the policy also requires all public officials and employees of the education sector to report all offers/ attempts to interact made by the tobacco industry. Violation of the order is a ground for administrative sanctions.

The public school sector, particularly in rural areas, is resource-strapped and has traditionally accepted all forms of donation. There is some level of "sacrifice" in monetary terms because the tobacco industry invests substantial amount of money in public school donations annually. But in this memo, DepEd has proven that the school children's health and morals are more important... that it is more important to protect children from tobacco industry deception.( or any perception that the tobacco industry can aggressively promote a product that kills and yet be good corporate citizens) 

The attached DepEd Order follows closely the CSC-DOH Joint Memo rules (e.g. avoid interaction with tobacco industry, avoid conflict of interest, divest financial interest, etc), and is in line with recommendations of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Guidelines for Article 5.3 (Tobacco Industry Interference).

Let's support the DepEd in their endeavor to give priority to public health and morals. 

I hope we can start by congratulating DepEd for choosing health over tobacco funds. And maybe, we can also commit to campaign around encouraging non-tobacco-private sector donations to public schools that are in need of support. 

Letters should be addressed to the Secretary of Education: 

DepEd Secretary Armin Luistro, FSC (Dep Ed, Meralco Avenue, Pasig City)  

Finally, congratulations to our champions in government and the team who worked so hard to make this happen! The CSC-DOH Joint Memo has indeed come a long way!

Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting Albay to ban plastic, smoking, coco tree cutting

By Rey M. Nasol

LEGAZPI CITY—The province of Albay is set on implementing three major pro-environment and pro-health measures in an effort to curb pollution and secure a more productive future for its residents.

Two of these measures—the ordinance that bans the use of plastic and a directive against cutting of coconut trees—were now both set to be enforced while the smoking ban in public places was still being deliberated by the provincial board.

Starting June 1, Albay will ban the use of plastic bags and styrofoams by all business establishments, sari-sari stores, public markets, neighborhoods and up to the big malls.

The ordinance, which was signed by Governor Joey Salceda on February 24, provided for fines ranging from P1,000 to P5,000 for business establishments found violating the measure and cancellation of business permits for repeat offenders.

Local executives in the province’s 15 towns and three cities have promised to enforce the plastic ban and urged residents to be ready with reusable bags for their shopping or marketing needs.

City Mayor Geraldine Rosal said the ban on plastic bags would be one of the province’s major contributions to solve environmental problems.

On February 24, provincial officials also met with enforcement agencies and owners of commercial establishments in preparation for the ordinance’s implementation in June.

Albay Board Member Arnold Embestro, chairman of the committee on environment of the provincial board, said some commercial establishments here have stopped using plastic bags starting March 1.

The ban on the cutting of coconut trees in Albay was imposed by Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala effective Jan. 30, 2012, based on a representation made by Salceda.

According to the statistics of the Philippine Coconut Authority in Bicol, the coconut industry in the region supports at least 2.1 million coconut farmers and their dependents.

Albay ranks fifth with an average yearly coconut production of 38,593 metric tons harvested from 40,180 hectares, while Catanduanes turned out 13,807 MT from 14,375 ha.

Camarines Sur had the highest volume of copra in 2010 with 93,833 MT harvested from 119,045 ha, followed by Sorsogon (97,738 MT from 97,692 ha), Masbate (87,478 MT from 91,076 ha) and Camarines Norte (82,002 MT from 85,375 ha).

The smoking ban, while already enforced in Legazpi City, was still being deliberated by the provincial board’s committee on health.

The smoking ban was launched in February last year yet by the Smoke-Free Albay Network, a body created by Salceda, but “the persistent attempt of the tobacco industry in the policy-making process is impairing the smooth passage of the proposed ordinance,” claimed Rose Olarte Orbita, head of Add-Vantage, a nongovernment organization (NGO) partner of the province in pushing for a smoke-free Albay.

Comments of Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp to the proposed Smoke-Free Albay Ordinance

A Message to our Albay Legislators

Our dear Chairman Board Member Herbert S. Borja,  Vice-Governor  Harold O. Imperial and Colleagues in the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Albay:

We have faith that you will defend us versus the enticements of the tobacco industry and we pray that you will entirely survive whatever pressure you are going through right now for our sake...
..and as you are in the process of passing the Smoke-Free Albay Ordinance - may God give you an UNDIVIDED HEART..

BU-NSTP RECOGNIZES SFAN AS ONE OF THEIR ACTIVE PARTNERS IN IMPLEMENTING PROGRAMS

January 17, 2012, Legazpi City- The Smoke-Free Albay Network was recognized as one of Bicol University- Office of the National Service Training Program (BU-NSTP) active partner agency for their significant contributions in the successful implementation of their programs in Albay.

The awarding will be held evening of January 23, 2012 at the BUCS Function Hall on their 10^th Year Anniversary Celebration called “Handog Pasasalamat @ 10”. This activity highlights the recognition of the vital role of NSTP programs and the people behind their success such as: mentors, volunteers and partner-agencies.

BU-NSTP has been serving Albayanos through their programs focusing on advocating the spirit of community responsibilities with active involvement for societal development, and empowering the spirit of volunteerism.

This year, more projects are expected from BU-NSTP focusing on healthy lifestyles and literacy programs among Albayanos.

SFAN as a BU-NSTP partner will continuously support activities in the service of Albayanos and our nation as a whole.

by: Bhevz Jaca