Ex-DOH Secretaries, stakeholders claim tobacco industry using CSR as ‘PR stunt’

Former Health Secretaries and stakeholders on Sunday alleged that the tobacco industry was using social initiatives to further its efforts to have tobacco regulations relaxed.

In a joint statement released via email, the secretaries denounced the industry's "tactics and strategies" and called their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs "public relations stunts."

"We condemn the tobacco industry's exploitation of the ongoing health crisis by using corporate social responsibility (CSR) and donations to sanitize their name and distract the public from their role in the deaths, injuries, and the ruin of millions, worldwide," the statement read.

The statement was signed by Dr. Jaime Galvez-Tan who served as health secretary in 1995, Dr. Carmencita Reodica from 1996 to 1998, Dr. Manuel Dayrit from 2001 to 2005, and Dr. Paulyn Jean Ubial from 2016 to 2017.

Also among the signatories are former Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) President and CEO Alexander Padilla, former National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Undersecretary Florencia Dorotan, former Health Assistant Secretary Agnette Peralta, and UP Manila Department of Health Policy and Administration Chair Carmelita Canila.

"The tobacco industry should be held liable for smokers and non-smokers being more susceptible to severe COVID-19 symptoms due to respiratory problems and comorbidities caused by tobacco products and secondhand smoke," the statement said.

"Annually, 117,000 Filipinos die from tobacco-related diseases... No donation from the tobacco industry can account for the 210 billion pesos annual economic loss due to tobacco-related hospitalization and productivity losses," it added.

The signatories also expressed support for Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01 released in 2010, which requires government officials to reject unnecessary interaction and engagement with the tobacco industry.

GMA News Online has reached out to key players of the tobacco industry, but no response has been received as of this posting.

The Philippines on Saturday, May 29, reported 7,443 new confirmed COVID-19 cases to bring the total to 1,216,582. This included 53,614 active cases; 1,142,246 recoveries; and 20,722 deaths. — DVM, GMA News