| Home Kapatiran
Links
Contact Us
Archive
Issue Number 23, November 2003
|
Kapatiran Issue
No. 23, November 2003
PHILIPPINES
SIGNS LANDMARK GLOBAL TOBACCO CONTROL TREATY - But
Will It Make Any Difference?
- Murray Horton
The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) was
adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO), in May
2003, after four long and hard years of negotiation and
campaigning by the international tobacco control
movement. This is the first time that WHO has adopted
such a treaty. The FCTC provides for a general ban on
tobacco advertising and promotion (which has been the
status quo in New Zealand for more than a decade) or for
restrictions in countries such as the US, where a total
prohibition would violate the Constitution’s
guarantee of free speech (which tobacco transnationals
have exploited to the hilt). It toughens up the
requirements for graphic health warnings on packets of
cigarettes; aims to stop hard sell tactics aimed at
teenagers; toughens up measures against second hand smoke
(which is the current big issue in New Zealand’s
smoking debate); and espouses manufacturer liability.
Compromise is inherent in such a massive campaign, which
included those pressing for an outright ban of tobacco
products (personally, I’d be happy to see the whole
industry criminalised), but this treaty is a major first
step. As it is, the FCTC was fought tooth and nail by the
US, Japan and Germany, acting on behalf of their gigantic
tobacco companies.
The campaign for the treaty was spearheaded by the
international Network for Accountability of Tobacco
Transnationals (NATT). The core of that coalition is the
US group Infact, which celebrated the passing of the FCTC
by lifting its nine year long boycott targeting Kraft
Food (owned by Philip Morris, one of the very biggest and
nastiest tobacco transnationals). This campaign was so
effective that, in 2003, Philip Morris changed its name
to Altria Group, because of the international negative
connotations of its old name. That boycott campaign was a
model of its kind. We congratulate all those who have
slogged their guts out to make this treaty a reality and
look forward to further milestones in the international
campaign against this deadliest and most addictive of
industries - WHO estimates that five million people die
each year of smoking-related diseases; thus 20 million
died during the four years it took to negotiate the FCTC.
Let’s stub it out.
In September 2003, the Philippines announced that it
would sign the FCTC (which only comes into effect after a
set number of countries sign and ratify it). One effect
of this is that signatory governments must take steps to
implement its provisions into domestic law. Thus, in June
2003, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed into law
the Tobacco Regulation Act. This includes the banning of
all cigarette advertising in print, TV, radio and
billboards, starting from 2007 and being fully in place
by July 2008. All tobacco company sponsorship of sports,
cultural and educational events will also be banned from
July 2008. All tobacco promotional material will be
restricted to point-of-sale locations or adults-only
facilities. The new law toughens up existing laws, which,
among other things, prohibit smoking in public places and
the sale of tobacco products to those aged under 18. And
the new law implements a smoking ban all public places,
including schools, hospitals and restaurants. Those
violating the law face heavy fines and prison terms of up
to three years.
That’s all very fine, of course, but actions speak
louder than words. Will this tough new law be enforced?
Anyone visiting the Philippines knows that it is a
paradise for smokers (cigarettes are sold, one affordable
stick at a time, through car windows at every urban
intersection. The vendors will even helpfully light them
for you). There is a very powerful tobacco lobby,
representing 500,000 tobacco farmers. And the biggest of
the transnational tobacco corporations have made their
homes in the Philippines, seeing the Third World as the
future source of their profits (the First World is
becoming all too problematic for these merchants of
death). Philip Morris (aka Altria), the world’s
largest tobacco company, has built a brand new $US300
million cigarette factory in Batangas (near Metro
Manila), from whence it plans to produce 40 billion
smokes per year. It is located in a special economic
zone, which qualifies it for tax breaks. It aims to
export a significant percentage of its production to
other South East Asian countries (Indonesia is the
biggest market for cigarettes in the region; the
Philippines ranks second). The Philippine government went
out of its way to attract Philip Morris, lauding it as a
wonderful example of foreign investment. The President
performed the groundbreaking ceremony, in July 2001, and
praised the new factory: “How is that for an
expression of support and faith in the investment climate
in the Philippines?” (Philippine Daily Inquirer,
13/7/01: “Gloria lauds cigarette plant, health chief
snubs rites”. To his credit, the Health Secretary
refused to attend the ceremony).
FAST FACTS ON PHILIPPINE TOBACCO USE
Philippine Daily Inquirer News Service,
24/6/03
• 34 million Filipinos smoke, according to a 1999
study.
• 35 million Filipinos are passive smokers - 60% of
all Philippine households are not smoke-free. Exposure to
environmental smoke is also very high in public places.
Over seven in ten students are exposed to smoke in public
places, according to the 2000 Global Youth Tobacco Survey
of the World Health Organisation and Center for Disease
Control. Four in ten students think smoking should be
banned in public places.
• A total of about 2.5 million young Filipinos
smoke, comprising 40% of adolescent boys (aged 10-14) and
19% of adolescent girls. Another 6% were former smokers.
About 38% of both males and females aged 15 to 19, or
about 3.1 million, are considered regular smokers. The
majority of these young smokers said peer pressure was
one reason why they took up smoking. Most now wish they
did not smoke and about two-thirds have tried to give up.
• 26.5% of young non-smokers are likely to start
smoking, according to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey
completed in 2000 by the World Health Organisation and
Center for Disease Control.
• 44.8% of young smokers buy cigarettes in stores
and 46.6% of them were not refused purchase despite their
age.
• 200,000 Filipino men will develop smoking-related
diseases in their productive years of age. These diseases
include trachea, lung and bronchus cancer; lip, oral
cavity and pharynx cancer; ischemic heart disease; stroke
and other diseases of the circulatory system.
• 43 billion pesos is the estimated cost to
taxpayers in 1999 to provide healthcare for these sick
men, and the loss in productivity.
• 20,000 is the estimated number of smoking-related
deaths in the country every year.
• 20% of household income of smokers' families is
estimated drained for tobacco use.
• Many vendors of cigarettes are children.
Go to top
|
