THE World Health Organization (WHO) recognized the Department of Health (DOH) and the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their shared achievements in enforcing and advancing tobacco control measures in the country.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO Representative to the Philippines, accorded the recognition to both Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique D. Domingo, who led policy changes to regulate tobacco products and e-cigarettes while implementing nationwide campaigns to help tobacco users quit.

Abeyasinghe also lauded the joint efforts of the DOH and FDA in continuously improving tobacco control in the country, even amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

Among those cited were the following:

• Revised policies on taxation of tobacco and other sin products, which helped create additional funding for the implementation of universal health care;
• Requirement of graphic health warnings on electronic nicotine delivery systems and heated tobacco products;
• Support of additional protocols imposed to ban smoking in public places;
• Creation of designated smoking areas while enforcing the health protocols required during the pandemic;
• Initiative to make the national quitline toll-free; and
• Scaling up of virtual cessation training modules.