Child rights and health advocates are expressing disappointment with top government officials and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos for enabling the increasing interference of the tobacco industry in government affairs, including accepting the recent industry donation of mobile laboratory clinics.
Top government officials, especially Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, whose mandate is to protect public health, are facing criticism for unnecessary interactions with tobacco company executives. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is also being criticized for accepting donations from a harmful industry–a violation of government policy.
“Even if government officials pretend otherwise, they know the dangers that these tobacco companies bring to the Filipino children and youth and the strings attached to their donations. What’s ironic is that these mobile clinics were donated by an industry that is responsible for the deaths and illnesses our Health Department is fighting to address,” said Ms. Au Quilala, spokesperson for the Child Rights Network and Deputy Executive Director of the Philippine Legislators’ Committee on Population and Development.
“This wanton display of cozy ties to tobacco companies sends a dangerous message to our government officials and employees that engaging in inappropriate interaction with industries that harm our children and youth is acceptable,” Ms. Quilala added.
Civil society group Parents Against Vape, meanwhile, said that this action of government officials shows that the government is compromising its duty to protect public interests, especially the health of Filipino children and youth.
“The industry deliberately targets the youth as its next generation of smokers. We need support programs to protect them from tobacco companies, not actions that put them at greater risk,” said Rebie Relator, President of Parents Against Vape.
According to the 2023 National Nutrition Survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute, there are 1 million new smokers and vapers among adolescents aged 10-19.
HealthJustice, a health advocacy group, reminded DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Department of Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, who were seen at the event in Malacañang alongside tobacco industry executives, of the government policy prohibiting the acceptance of donations and unnecessary interactions with the tobacco industry.
“We heard the Palace defend the Health Secretary, downplaying the issue and insisting that he did nothing wrong. We respectfully disagree. We have several government policies prohibiting that type of interaction, and it’s frankly inappropriate for public officials to be involved in actions with companies that sell products that cause nicotine addiction and death,” said Mr. Ralph Degollacion, Managing Director of HealthJustice.
Mr. Degollacion said the government and Filipino taxpayers are at the losing end for shouldering the economic burden of tobacco-related illnesses, as the costs for treating ailments and productivity loss far exceed the revenue generated from tobacco taxes.
Child rights and health advocates also pointed out that this is not the first time the Marcos administration has openly embraced interactions with the tobacco industry. In 2022, tobacco executives had a private audience with the President and the First Lady. In April 2024, the First Lady and Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. were honored guests at the inauguration of a vape factory in Batangas.
Advocates reminded the government that the Philippines is a signatory to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Therefore, it has a legal obligation to protect the government against tobacco industry interference.
“We call on the public to be on guard because their welfare is at stake with the growing influence of the tobacco industry in government,” Mr. Degollacion concluded.
