Philippines: Group Scores Tobacco Ads in Makati Fiesta Banderitas

Source from:  GMA News Online 05/19/2014

At least two environmental groups on Sunday scored what they called an advertising attempt by a tobacco firm that placed its product's logo on banderitas (flaglets) at a fiesta in Makati City.

The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP) and EcoWaste Coalition said the move by Mighty Corp. was a "deceptive marketing practice" that violates the tobacco regulation law.

"Such evident breach of the tobacco advertising ban undermines our nation's efforts to prevent tobacco use and addiction that is killing 10 Filipinos every hour.  It is totally disgusting and unconscionable," said pulmonologist and FCAP executive director Dr. Maricar Limpin.

EcoWaste said the banderitas were placed at Abeja, Barasoain, Colmena, Constancia, Hiwaga, Honradez, J.B. Roxas, Kakarong, Malolos, Novaliches, Obrero, Pateros, Sultana and Trabajo Streets in Barangay Olympia.

The groups noted Republic Act 9211, the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003, bans outdoor advertising materials beginning July 1, 2007, except inside the premises of point-of-sale retail establishments.

FCAP noted the Philippines has some 17 million smokers and an average of 10 tobacco-related deaths every hour from diseases such as cancer and emphysema.

"With these shocking figures of bad health and death, we need to ensure that the law is faithfully enforced and public health is prioritized and upheld over and above commercial profits," Limpin said.

Meanwhile, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator Aileen Lucero said her group abhors this "blatant use of the barangay fiesta for tobacco advertising in residential streets that obviously seek to promote tobacco consumption by people of all ages and gender for increased sales."

"Apart from the repulsive use of the festive occasion to advertise tobacco, we reject single-use buntings that only add to the volume and toxicity of post-fiesta garbage," she added.

The groups urged the Civil Service Commission to look into the matter to see if the CSC-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2010-01, which seeks to protect the bureaucracy against tobacco industry interference, was violated.

Also, they urged the Department of Interior and Local Government to issue a circular that will remind local government units to comply with the ban on tobacco advertising. Enditem