Tag Archives: Department of Health

[People] 𝗢𝗛 𝗠𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗔! | by Wilson Fortaleza

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#HumanRights #Corruption #COA

𝗢𝗛 𝗠𝗬 𝗖𝗢𝗔!

Bidang ahensya ngayon ang Commission on Audit (COA). Sikat na sikat. Sunod-sunod kasing naglabasan ang audit reports nito para sa taong 2020 at bumulaga sa mata ng publiko ang mga sabit ng maraming ahensyang nababanggit.

Pero bakit nga ba naging bidang bigla ang COA ngayon? Wala namang malalim na paliwanag. Katulad lang ito ng pelikula na ang kinang ng bida ay nakasalalay sa papel ng kontrabida. Ni wala ngang sikat na bida sa tanggapan ng COA.

Dahil wala namang bago sa ginagawa ng COA. Regular lang naman itong naglalabas ng kanyang annual report. At kung hindi man supplied ang media, nakapaskil at accessible din sa publiko ang audit reports nito na makikita sa kanyang website. Ibig sabihin, kahit na manahimik ang ahensya ay nariyan lang din naman ang mga ulat ng COA na maaring makuha ng mamamahayag o ninuman.

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[Press Release] Health advocates welcome victory over PDAF’s unconstitutionality -ABI-Health

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Health advocates welcome victory over PDAF’s unconstitutionality

Finally, the health of the Filipino people seizes to become just another target for political patronage of traditional politicians. This came as a result of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) is unconstitutional. With this latest development, health advocates have welcomed this as a hard-won gain of the mass movement’s continuing struggle.

ABI Health Cluster copy

Public finance in health is one of the critical issues in the people’s fight against the pork barrel system. PDAF is only 5.5 percent of the Special Purpose Fund (SPF), one of the presidential pork barrel funds. Therefore, the fight to scrap the other lump sum, discretionary funds continues.

Medical assistance for service patients, along with scholarships, has always been the justifications of politicians on why PDAF should stay. However, the recent review of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) of PDAF showed that these items got morsels from the billions of pesos spent for pork, only PhP3 billion or six to eight percent of the total pork released from July 2010 to June 2013.

According to Mercy Fabros, ABI-Health Cluster Coordinator, “for the longest time, poor people knock on the offices of congress representatives and senators like beggars begging alms for medical assistance; Because their mindset has been clouded by the assistance their receiving, the people do not fully understand that PDAF is sourced from their own money (taxes). It is their right to access health services and the obligation of the government to provide them. The evil of the system of patronage lies in the fact that it imprisons people constantly in a morally-degrading relationship with politicians.”

About PhP25.2 billion funds will be freed-up in the 2014 National Government Budget, which can be used to finance programs that would genuinely contribute to the achievement of Universal Health Care (UHC). The Department of Health (DoH) could use this opportunity to make its budget a real leap forward by adopting ABI Health Cluster’s proposed alternative budget.

Now the rendering of PDAF as unconstitutional and forwarding of funds instead to frontline agencies such as the DOH insulates health services from politics.

“For the 2013 additional, PDAF-sourced funds, while we understand the need still for medical assistance through the set-up voucher’s system, DoH could also use the funds to restore basic health systems at least in the Yolanda-stricken areas that could provide more health services for the survivors,” Fabros added.

Access to health services is a right and it is the state’s obligation to do so. Traditional politicians have no business using need for medical assistance as a ticket to buy votes and make people dependent on their bleeding hearts. Clearly, the fight against PDAF is a battle half-won for health advocates because the biggest chunk of the pork barrel remains intact. Because it has opened more spaces for meaningful participation, this is now the best time to influence public health policy and budgeting.

The ABI-Health Cluster is composed of 62 member organizations advocating for Universal Health Care. It is one of the clusters of ABI along with Education, Agriculture, Social Protection, Environment and Persons with Disabilities Clusters. It is attached to Social Watch Philippines (SWP), a network of a hundred nongovernment organizations that, for eight years, has been successfully pushing for increases in the national budgets for social development, called for the realignment of P25 Billion allotted to the unconstitutional Priority Development Assistance Funds (PDAF) to national government agencies’ programs to help victims of disasters and prevent more tragedies caused by super typhoons and other calamities.

ALTERNATIVE BUDGET INITIATIVE (ABI) – HEALTH

Press Release
25 November 2013

Contact Persons:
Jofti Villena, Sarilaya, +63949.525.3494 (Media Liaison)
ABI Health Cluster: (632) 9273319, abihealth@gmail.com

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[Petition] The Medical City: Please give back by setting up one mobile hospital in any of the provinces hit by super Typhoon Yolanda -change.org

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Pinepetisyon si Administrator
The Medical City: Please give back by setting up one mobile hospital in any of the provinces hit by super Typhoon Yolanda

Petisyon ni Pia Maria Magalona
Antipolo City, Philippines

Many survivors of super typhoon Yolanda are in need of immediate medical care but they have nowhere to go. Almost all hospitals and health centers in the provinces hit by the super typhoon are no longer functional, some of them were even flattened. Local medical and health professionals and medicines are even more scarce than food and water.

change-c-large-f6247deefe4649f5e7101a12f6ed752a

The Department of Health has set up its own medical tents, but their resources and people are too scarce and scattered; they can barely keep up with this massive scale of devastation Yolanda left on our people.

We are calling on The Medical City to set up at least one mobile hospital to any of the super typhoon-hit provinces. And we ask that these hospitals keep these facilities ready for deployment every time disasters strike the country. This is the perfect time for one of the top 5 hospitals in the Philippines to GIVE BACK to society in terms of resources and expertise.

For every day that survivors are not given medical attention, they are becoming more and more vulnerable and at risk of death. And this human catastrophe may become bigger than what we’re seeing in the news.

A mobile hospital in each province can help thousands of survivors who are in need of emergency care or surgery. Instead of patients being airlifted to Manila, why not just bring the hospitals to them? Hundreds of lives may be saved and it could help preempt an outbreak of diseases and infections.

Sign petition @www.change.org

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[Featured Site] MD4HR.net

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MD4HR.net

MD4HR

MAG

The http://www.MD4HR.net is an online database of public health doctors like the City and Municipal Health Officers (C/MHO), Rural Health Physicians (RHP), Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB), Medical Officers, Medico-Legal Officers, Emergency Physicians and the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Forensic doctors and Philippine National Police (PNP) doctors trained through the initiative of the Medical Action Group, Inc. (MAG) as part of its campaign against torture in the Philippines.

The purpose of http://www.MD4HR.net is to increase public awareness and access to the doctors trained on various human rights concepts, medical and psychological examination of torture victims, sexually-abused and survivors through an online interactive map.

Another aim of http://www.MD4HR.net is to offer a venue for reporting of human rights violation cases like torture and sexual assault as well as the list of the Department of Health (DOH) Retained Hospitals and Women and Children Protection Units in the Philippines.

Visit MD4HR.net @www.md4hr.net

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[In the news] GenSan upgrades village health centers -MindaNews

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MindaNews » GenSan upgrades village health centers.

By Allen V. Estabillo
August 14, 2012

GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/14 August) – The city government has embarked on the rehabilitation and upgrading of its 26 barangay health centers to provide better health services to local residents.

Dr. Edgardo Sandig, City Integrated Health Services Office (CIHSO) chief, said the move is part of the local government’s ongoing efforts to improve the capacity of local health centers and personnel in addressing basic health concerns, especially those involving children and maternal health.

“This is anchored on the city government’s commitment to reduce child mortality and improve maternal health among residents,” he said.

Sandig said the two health concerns were among the eight Millennium Development Goals that 189 members of the United Nations, including the Philippines, had pledged to achieve by the year 2015.

As part of the program, the health official said five barangays – Tambler, San Isidro, Tinagacan, Mabuhay and Katangawan – initially received a grant of P7.5 million or P1.5 million each for the repair and rehabilitation of their health center buildings and facilities.

He said the funds were sourced from the Department of Health’s facilities enhancement program.

Read full article @ www.mindanews.com

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[From the web] Drugs in the Philippines are more expensive than those in other parts of Asia and in countries of similar economic status -magph.org

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Drugs in the Philippines are more expensive than those in other parts of Asia and in countries of similar economic status

Brand names in the Philippines have been found to be 5 to 30 times more expensive than similar brand names of similar manufacturers in India and Pakistan. This is the strongest factor that impelled the government to institute a parallel drug importation policy under the Cheaper Medicines Program. (Tables 1 and 2)

Worsening

The trend is not improving. In fact, it is worsening, at least until after the imposition of the Government Mediated Access Price in 2010.

As Table 3 shows, the ratio of local median prices to international reference prices, especially for innovator (or originator) brands, in both public and private sectors, rose in most of the past decade. Indeed, the ratios of Philippine price to India price for all the four branded drugs considered in Figure 1 rose from 2004 to 2010.

Gains

Gains have been achieved in the production and consumption of generic drugs, following the enactment of the Generics Act in 1988.

In the first-ever Generics Summit held in September 2008, as many as 28 generic-drug companies were given quality seals for good manufacturing practices. The number of good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant firms has since increased to 53, though a larger number of firms continues to operate without having yet complied with GMP standards.

Nonetheless, the larger firms manufacturing prescription drugs now meet GMP standards.

Today, it is claimed that 5 to 6 out of 10 Filipinos now purchase generic drugs. As Table 4 shows, an increasing proportion of Filipinos are buying cheaper generic drugs and the proportion of households that did not buy medicines (for any reason) has declined significantly.

The Department of Health has mandated all government health workers to use only generic terminologies in drug purchasing, prescribing, dispensing and reimbursement. Reports indicate that generic manufacturers now sell at prices 55 to 80 percent lower than their branded counterparts.

Read full article @ magph.org

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[From the web] Women’s Health Now In Crisis: Pro-Poor Comprehensive Women’s Health Program Needed– Rep. Emmi De Jesus- Gabriela

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Women’s Health Now In Crisis: Pro-Poor Comprehensive Women’s Health Program Needed– Rep. Emmi De Jesus
July 20th, 2012

The failure of the Aquino Administration to reduce maternal mortality justifies an immediate review of its health care policies,” according to GWP Rep. Emmi De Jesus on the DOH report that the Philippines failed to reduce maternal mortality despite efforts and interventions.

“President Noynoy Aquino‘s administration is killing our poor women with its failure to deliver the much needed pro-poor and comprehensive health care services to women. Maternal deaths in Metro Manila alone in 2010 were caused by eclampsia, haemorrhage, medical complication and infection. These are easily preventable complications if only there are enough health care facilities with enough health care providers to deliver the much needed health care for the mothers and infant,” added De Jesus.

The 2011 report of Center for Women Resources (CWR) revealed that 90 million Filipinos are served by only 3,050 doctors, 4,600 nurses, and 16,800 midwives.

“Passing a reproductive health bill is not the sole solution to reducing maternal mortality. The government needs to address the more fundamental questions of joblessness and poverty while making health services accessible and affordable to poor women who are the ones victimized by easily preventable complications that cause maternal deaths. This situation is further aggravated by the government’s continuing neglect of the health sector by passing the responsibility to private business through corporatizing of 26 major regional government hospitals,” the Gabriela solon further added.

“Gabriela pushed for a reproductive health bill that will provide the Filipino women a comprehensive health care. Its framework on women’s health goes way beyond the distribution of contraceptives to curb population growth. Enacting a health policy that will help ensure women’s full access to health care will help prevent maternal mortality. But the government must also create programs that will provide for decent local jobs with living wages so the families will have enough income to spend for their health,” ended De Jesus.#

Source: www.gabrielawomensparty.net

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[In the news] D.O.H. wins breastmilk Case vs Multinationals -businessmirror.com.ph

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EXCLUSIVE: D.O.H. wins breastmilk Case vs Multinationals
by JOEL R. SAN JUAN, businessmirror.com.ph
June 12, 2012

THE Department of Justice has upheld the legality of a government memorandum prohibiting multinational firms that manufacture infant milk and other nutrition products in the country from using registered trademarks that may erode the efforts of the government to promote breast-feeding.

The justice department said the September 5, 2011, memorandum of the Department of Health (DOH) was aimed at “protecting public welfare.”

In a seven-page legal opinion on May 11, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said the health department was the primary government agency given the authority to issue orders and regulations concerning the implementation of the government’s health policies.

De Lima also noted that Section 12 (b) of Executive Order 51, otherwise known as the Milk Code, gave the DOH the power to promulgate rules necessary for the proper implementation of the code.

Read full article @ businessmirror.com.ph

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[Press Release] Climate change and gender orgs join Earth Day celebrations -Aksyon Klima Pilipinas

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Climate change and gender orgs join Earth Day celebrations

Civil society networks celebrated Earth Day early last Friday through a round table discussion on gender, health and climate change.

Aksyon Klima Pilipinas and Sarilaya, networks working on climate change and gender equality issues, respectively, also invited participants from other rural groups and non-governmental organizations.

“Earth Day should honor not only Mother Nature but also our own mothers and other women who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change,” said Aksyon Klima coordinator Rowena Bolinas.

In the case studies presented by Mary delos Santos, president of the Pambansang Koalisyon ng Kababaihan sa Kanayunan (PKKK), or the National Rural Women Coalition, which they undertook in areas from Bolinao, Pangasinan to Muug in Zamboanga Sibugay, women respondents in the communities identified the need for social protection in the form of affordable insurance for health, livelihood and disaster-related events.

“Women are differently impacted by disasters and climate change due to limited access to economic opportunities, dual roles in domestic chores and production, physical make-up and imposed social restrictions,” she said.

Women participants also urged the government and other sectors to recognize the engendered needs of women especially in times of disasters and with the worsening impacts of climate change.

“Women in evacuation centers are exposed to danger and violence due to the lack of privacy, security and unhygienic environment. They even fall prey to sexual aggression”, delos Santos added.

Esperanza Santos, Sarilaya’s advocacy officer, explained that water-related health concerns are but some of the many vulnerable points of women when it comes to dealing with climate change.

“Women need to wash much more often than men do. They are also expected to take care of their children’s hygiene,” Santos shared.

“Women also traditionally carry water into their houses and tend the garden, and we have accounts of members who are finding these roles increasingly harder to fulfil as the sources of their water are drying up,” she added.

Undersecretary Yeb Sano of the Climate Change Commission, Dr. Cecile Magturo of the Department of Health’s climate change group, Mina Tenorio of LIKHAAN and Max de Mesa of the Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates also spoke during the day-long discussion.

###
Aksyon Klima Pilipinas (Aksyon Klima) is composed of about 40 civil society organizations across the Philippines working on various climate change and development issues.

Sarilaya is a national organization of women committed to promoting women’s empowerment and gender equality.

Contact: Denise M. Fontanilla
Advocacy Officer, Aksyon Klima Pilipinas
+639064387229, info@aksyonklima.com

All submissions are republished and redistributed in the same way that it was originally published online and sent to us. We may edit submission in a way that does not alter or change the original material.

Human Rights Online Philippines does not hold copyright over these materials. Author/s and original source/s of information are retained including the URL contained within the tagline and byline of the articles, news information, photos etc.

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[Press Release] Women workers chide bishops for celebrating withdrawal of UN funding on family planning – Partido ng Manggagawa

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While bishops hail the United Nation’s decision to abandon the country’s family planning plan due to lack of funds, the Department of Health (DOH) notes that Filipinos with HIV has reached more than 7000 and increasing.  Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) believes that for these reasons, the more the State and advocates should make certain the passage of the RH bill and so its budget allocation.

“It is unfortunate that the bishops’ reason for rejoicing is also reason for more difficulties for the poor, especially women with unmet family planning needs and dying due to pregnancy and birth complications, and Filipinos with HIV and AIDs.  It is callous and insensitive to celebrate at the expense of people needing help,” explained PM Secretary-General Judy Ann Chan-Miranda.

PM chides the bishops for admonishing taxpayers regarding budget allocation for RH-related services.  The poor, needing RH services, deserves State support – it is one reason why the State exists in the first place.

“The tax-exempt Catholic Church has no moral ascendancy to meddle on the State’s social spending.  Will it share its wealth or pay the bills for the healthcare of poor women?” asked Miranda.

PRESS RELEASE
Partido ng Manggagawa
2 September 2011
Contact Person: Judy Ann Miranda
0922-8677522

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[From the web] Why I support the Reproductive Health Bill? – www.magph.org

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Why I support the Reproductive Health Bill?

I made this note as a mother, a wife, a doctor and a Roman Catholic. And I strongly support the Reproductive Health Bill or simply the RH Bill. The provisions in the Reproductive Health Bill would also support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality and infant mortality rate.

Seated in the comfort of my office, a patient came in for consultation. As I was asking questions regarding the reasons of her visit, the patient told me that, “Doc. I missed my menses for 6 days, unsa may maayo nga tambal para padugo (what medication should I take to induced menstruation)?”

Having heard this, I asked, did you take a pregnancy test? She answered in the affirmative: “pero Doc. Dili pa man ni bata, dugo pa man ni (but Doc, this is not yet a baby, this is still blood).” Among the reasons of the women want to have an abortion who are in the same situation as my patient are purely economic reasons and some are very close in birth spacing in which the parents are not yet ready for another child.

As a daughter of devout Catholic parents of which my late mother is a Family Life Apostolate lecturer, the idea of being an accomplice in the conduct of abortion is a horrible act to do. I usually tell the women to please let the pregnancy push through then after this we will discuss measures on how to prevent another unwanted pregnancy.

As what former Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral said, 560,000 to 858,000 had illegal abortion. Based on the statistics, it is said that 2,000,000 pregnancies are unwanted and 11 maternal deaths. These glaring numbers could be reduced by 1/3 if when massive information, education and campaign on family planning will be given priority.

The Reproductive Health Bill has been once again the center of debate and public discourse. The RH Bill, as stated in its introduction, guarantees universal access to methods of birth control and maternal care. The two consolidated versions of the RH Bill i.e. House Bill No. 4244 and Senate Bill No. 2865 are now pending in the plenary debate in Congress.

Verses in Luke 11:5-13 says: “Which of your fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?” And if your child asks for an egg, will you give a scorpion? Even you evil people know how to give gifts to your children, how much more then will the father in heaven give Holy Spirit to those who asked him!

It is our obligation, as parents, to provide good nutrition, proper education, a suitable home and genuine love to our children. It is not enough that we will give them life but if should be a life worth living. We might not give them everything they want but we give them the essential things they need. For how you provide them enough food or shelter if your finances are scarce and much more if you have a big family? I hope that I will not be excommunicated if I say that “if the prophet and the Messiah are to live today, they will surely not say “Go to the world and multiply”. Before, there are vast hectares of lands and resources to share but now, there are a lot of people with diminution of resources. Some teachings in my opinion change with time.

Being a mother, with three beautiful daughters aged 9-10 and 12 years old respectively, I welcome the idea that family planning will be thought to school children beginning Grade V to secondary education. This will give them the idea and information of their sexuality and how to preserve it. We, as parents, do not have adequate time to teach our children this because we too are both earning for a living. However, value formation should be given much attention.

Family planning whether natural or artificial has the same goal, that is, not to let the sperm and egg meets so that fertilization will not take place. But being married, one of the most enjoyable things to do is too have a sexually-gratifying relationship without thinking of having an unwanted baby. “A baby is a God-given gift so that he/she therefore should be loved, wanted, cared for without restraint.”

I am therefore supporting the vision which the RH Bill introduces that “every pregnancy be wanted that it would culminate to a healthy baby without compromising the health of the mother.”

Evangeline Revilla, MD
Municipal Health Officer
Maramag, Bukidnon
June 28, 2011

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[Video] Rock bands jam for Mother Earth | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

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Rock bands jam for Mother Earth | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features.

ABS-CBNnews.com

Tuloy ang kantahan at rakrakan sa isang malaking concert sa Pasay City.  Hindi lang ito basta jamming dahil para ito sa kalikasan. Layunin ng concert na imulat ang mamamayan sa kahalagahan ng pangangalaga sa kalikasan. Live mula Pasay City, magba-Bandila si Gretchen Malalad. Bandila, May 6 2011, Biyernes.

Watch video @ ABS-CBNnews.com

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[Statement] Preventable child deaths in Palawan: What happened to the CCT program? – Partido Lakas ng Masa-Women

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File photo source: www.masa.ph

File photo source: http://www.masa.ph

Written by Partido Lakas ng Masa
Source: http://www.masa.ph/

According to the latest reports at least 30 people, mostly children belonging to a Palawan tribe, died in what health authorities suspect to be an outbreak of cholera due to contaminated water. At least seven out of every ten dead were children under five years of age. The tribal community struck by suspected cholera live in Bataraza town.

“We were told that the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program would reach out to communities such as these, and provide households cash and other services for health and nutritional expenses. Palawan is also supposed to be one of the 20 poorest provinces in the country where the CCT program is being implemented. In fact the province has been described as a Set 2 beneficiary area, where the CCT program was started in April 2009 under the Arroyo administration and has been continued until 2014 under the government of President Noynoy Aquino. It was supposed to address poverty and improve the health of precisely these types of poor and marginalized communities. If the CCT was really effective, why should such disasters happen?” Emma Garcia, spokesperson for PLM-Women queried?

“We want some clarification on this from the DSWD Secretary Dinky Solliman and other agencies concerned with the implementation of the CCT program. Was the CCT program implemented in these areas affected by the cholera? If not, why not? If so, what are the results? Why wasn’t this epidemic prevented?”

“We organized a women’s picket outside the Department of Health on Friday April 08 and PLM-Women are prepared to continue these women’s pickets outside the DSWD and other relevant agencies until their questions are answered.”

That children are dying due to preventable ailments such as diarrhea is an outrage that’s happening in 21st century Philippines. And the fact is that this is not an isolated incident. According to UNICEF Philippines, the UN organization mandated to work for children’s rights, diarrhea is a leading cause of under-five deaths in the country, responsible for almost 10,000 deaths per year.

“We call on the government of President Aquino for action, not mere words and sweet talk. Increase the health care budget now, establish a system of universal health care, and push for the immediate passage of the RH Bill which will save mothers and childrens lives”, Emma Garcia said.

Partido Lakas ng Masa — Women

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[In the news] Dirty water blamed for Palawan deaths | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features

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Dirty water blamed for Palawan deaths | ABS-CBN News | Latest Philippine Headlines, Breaking News, Video, Analysis, Features.

Source: abs-cbnNEWS.com

ABS-CBN News

PALAWAN, Philippines – Dirty water has been blamed for deaths of 20 people in Bataraza town in Palawan province.

A Department of Health (DOH) study showed that the water used by villagers in Sitio Linao, Barangay Colandanum, tested positive for E. coli bacteria.

DOH tests also identified cholera as the illness of 3 Palao-an natives who were suffering from diarrhea like the other victims.

Dr. Eduardo Cruz, provincial health officer of Palawan, said more than 300 people have fallen ill in the community.

The DOH has distributed water containers and water purifier solutions while ABS-CBN Sagip Kapamilya has given water purifying tablets to villagers . – Report from Kori Quintos, ABS-CBN News

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[Press release] SC allows ex-Health Secretaries to intervene in landmark tobacco case

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Dr. Esperanza Cabral source: prodeoetpatria.blogspot.com

Are pictures on cigarette packs not too far behind? The Supreme Court granted the petition of five Former Health Secretaries to intervene in the legal battle between the Department of Health (DOH) and the tobacco industry over the validity of DOH Administrative Order No. 13 or the Graphic Health Information order.

“The wheels of justice are in motion,” said Dr. Esperanza Cabral, one of the intervenors and the Secretary who issued the order in May 2010. “Health justice is not far behind, we hope sooner rather than later.”

In January of this year, the five former Health Secretaries Esperanza Cabral, Jimmy Galvez-Tan, Francisco Duque, Alfredo Bengzon and Alberto Romualdez filed the petition to intervene in the case between Mighty Tobacco and the DOH pending before the Supreme Court.

The intervenors, all medical doctors, have witnessed the devastating effects of tobacco use on the health and well-being of Filipinos whom they served in their decades of practice. World Health Organization estimates place the number of deaths of Filipinos from tobacco at 240 a day, making it an alarming public health crisis. Seven out of the ten primary causes of mortality in the country – stroke, cancer, heart attacks, tuberculosis, chronic lower respiratory disease, pneumonia, and diseases that occur around childbirth – are tobacco-related diseases.

A related case was filed in Makati in September 2010 by a group of over 160 petitioners led by former Health Secretary and Senator Juan M. Flavier, seeking an affirmation of the validity of AO 2010-0013. This makes a total of six health secretaries supporting the order.

“Filipinos have a right to know. As former health secretaries, it is our moral responsibility to continue to protect public health interest from an industry that fosters disease and death in its regular course of business,” continued Dr. Cabral.

Dr. Angelina Galang, of the Green Convergence for Safe Food, Healthy Environment and Sustainable Economy, was also hopeful. She said, “Because tobacco kills, transparency and truth must involve showing graphically what are likely to happen when this product is used as intended.”

The DOH can enforce AO 2010-0013 and impose administrative sanctions like seizure, recall and condemnation against tobacco manufacturers, sellers, distributors, and importers that are not covered by injunctions issued by any court.

Press Release