Cayetano Pushes DOH to Lead Philippine Delegation in Global Tobacco Control Summit

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Metro Manila, Philippines – The smoke from last year’s controversial delegation to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) has yet to clear, but the Senate is making one thing certain: never again.

In her Chairperson’s Report released on June 30, 2025, Senator Pia Cayetano, Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, delivered a blunt recommendation: the Department of Health (DOH) must be designated as the official and permanent head of the Philippine delegation to all WHO FCTC Conferences of the Parties (COP).

The move comes after a bruising inquiry into the performance of the Philippines’ 34-person delegation to COP10 in February 2024—a delegation that left the country’s credibility in ashes.

A Delegation in Disgrace

COP, the governing body of the WHO FCTC, convenes every two years to strengthen the world’s only global public health treaty on tobacco control. But in 2024, instead of championing stronger protections for Filipinos, the Philippine delegation reportedly delayed sessions, parroted tobacco industry arguments, and pushed for watered-down measures that weakened global tobacco control efforts.

The result? The Philippines earned yet another “Dirty Ashtray” award—its fifth—an infamous recognition reserved for countries that sabotage tobacco control objectives in favor of industry interests.

Worse, the 2024 team was led not by health authorities but by the Office of the President’s then Senior Deputy Executive Secretary.

DOH as the Logical Leader

Cayetano’s report did not mince words. Agencies like the Department of Education and the Department of Foreign Affairs have already voiced support for DOH leadership. The DOH itself has consistently asserted its readiness, expertise, and mandate to lead.

“The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee agreed with the sensible recommendation to make DOH the permanent head of delegation to WHO FCTC conferences, whether COP or MOP [Meeting of the Parties],” the report stated. “To belabor the point, it is only appropriate for the DOH to lead the Philippines’ team to the world’s only existing public health treaty.”

The next COP, set in Geneva, Switzerland from November 17 to 22, 2025, will be a defining moment for the Philippines. With Health Secretary Ted Herbosa currently presiding over the World Health Assembly, expectations are high that the country should present itself as a model of public health leadership—not a repeat offender.

Public Interest Advocates: “Never Again”

Civil society welcomed the Senate’s firm stand. Public interest law group ImagineLaw underscored the urgency of reform.

“It is a shame that the Philippines has received dirty ashtray awards in the last two COPs. This should serve as a wake-up call to the President,” said Atty. Sophia San Luis, Executive Director of ImagineLaw.

“It is only right for DOH to lead the Philippine delegation in future WHO FCTC conferences, because protecting public health should never take a backseat to tobacco industry interests. It would be a shame if the Philippines were to receive another dirty ashtray award in the same year Sec. Ted Herbosa served as President of the World Health Assembly.”

A Legal and Moral Obligation

Under Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, the Philippines is duty-bound to protect tobacco control policies from interference by the tobacco industry. This principle is reinforced domestically by a 2010 joint memorandum circular between the DOH and the Civil Service Commission, explicitly banning partnerships with tobacco companies in shaping health policies.

Yet, despite this obligation, the country’s recent delegations have repeatedly leaned toward the industry, tarnishing the Philippines’ image in the global fight against tobacco.

The Bigger Battle Ahead

For Cayetano, for ImagineLaw, and for countless health advocates, the issue is clear: the delegation to COP11 is more than a question of representation—it is a test of the nation’s integrity.

Will the Philippines continue down a path of international embarrassment, serving as a cautionary tale of industry capture? Or will it reclaim its rightful place among countries committed to protecting public health above all else?

The answer may come this November in Geneva. And this time, the world will be watching.

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