Former officials urge Marcos to let DOH lead PH delegation to global tobacco talks

Former Health and Education Secretaries, senior officials from the Departments of Health (DOH), Education (DepEd), and Social Welfare (DSWD), along with former leaders of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), are urging President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to designate the DOH as the lead of the Philippine delegation to the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

The global tobacco control talks will be held this month in Geneva, Switzerland, and according to the former officials, the Philippines’ leadership at COP11 is crucial for national credibility, public health protection, and the country’s role in global health diplomacy. 

They argued that as a global health treaty, the WHO FCTC should be represented by the agency mandated to safeguard the health and welfare of Filipinos.

“Tobacco claims approximately 112,000 lives in the Philippines every year—preventable losses that demand government leadership prioritizing public health over commercial interests,” the petition read.

The petition is supported by the following 23 officials: 

Former Health Secretaries:

• Dr. Carmencita N. Reodica
• Dr. Enrique T. Ona
• Dr. Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial
• Dr. Francisco T. Duque III
• Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit
• Dr. Esperanza I. Cabral
• Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan

Former Health Undersecretaries: 

• Atty. Alexander A. Padilla
• Dr. Myrna C. Cabotaje
• Dr. Mario C. Villaverde
• Dr. Lilibeth C. David
• Dr. Madeleine de Rosas-Valera
• Dr. Abdullah B. Dumama, Jr.
• Dr. Kenneth G. Ronquillo
• Dr. Kenneth Y. Hartigan-Go 
• Dr. David J. Lozada

Former Education Secretary: 

• Bro. Armin A. Luistro

Former Education Undersecretary:

• Reynaldo Antonio D. Laguda

Former Social Welfare Secretary:

• Esperanza I. Cabral and Corazon Alma G. De Leon

Former Assistant Secretary of Health: 

• Prof. Agnette dP. Peralta

Former Civil Service Commission chairpersons:

• Corazon Alma G. De Leon
• Dr. Francisco T. Duque III

Former Commissioner of the Civil Service Commission:

• Commissioner Mary Ann Fernandez-Mendoza

The petition further stressed:

“The DOH is best positioned to represent the country and champion public health interests at COP11. Health authorities and experts must lead this crucial dialogue.”

The former officials highlighted the Philippines’ current role as President of the 78th World Health Assembly under DOH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa. 

They said allowing DOH to head the COP11 delegation would reinforce consistency with this leadership role and strengthen the country’s credibility in global health governance.

“Public health must come before profit,” the petition emphasized.

“To allow an agency other than the DOH to lead the delegation would undermine the country’s credibility and integrity in advancing global health. Repeating this mistake would erode public trust, misuse taxpayer funds, and betray our commitment to defend public health — especially as COP11 coincides with National Children’s Month,” it added. — LA, GMA Integrated News