Tuesday, October 23, 2012

REPORT ON ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTING 1990-1994 ACTION PLAN ON TOBACCO OR HEALTH - PHILIPPINES


Comprehensive national policies and programmes on tobacco control
(a) Health warning statement on cigarette packs (Republic Act No . 7394 - Article 94) passed by Congress in 1991.

Problem: No guidelines so not implemented until 1 July 1993

Action: The Department of Health issued Administrative Order No. 10 on 22 March 1993 stating details on placing government warning "Cigarette smoking is dangerous to your health", effective July 1, 1993.

(b) Meeting of Secretary of Health Juan Flavier with advertisers' group to place the specified warning on billboards, and voice-over on TV ads and radio commercials after the commercial. They agreed to comply .
Effect: Radio commercials for cigarettes are now followed by voiced over warning; TV ads now followed by voiced over warning; billboards newly set up have warning at bottom - small but "readable"


Problems encountered
1 . Republic Act 7171 signed by Pres. Corazon Aquino - Protecting tobacco industry where 15 % of total tobacco revenues (about lOB pesos in 1991) will go back for development of tobacco industry in 7 provinces producing Virginia tobacco with a minimum of 1 million kilos per province.

2 . House Bill 10050 (sponsored by 50 Congressmen) and Senate bill no . 1561 (sponsored by Senator Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo) is for repealing/amending Consumer's Republic Act No. 7394 to miniaturize (smaller) make printed warning labels and displace it from front of the pack as stipulated by the Department of Health to the side of the pack.

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