HEALTH OFFICIALS MUST LEAD NEXT DELEGATION TO TOBACCO CONTROL SUMMIT' - CAYETANO

Metro Manila, Philippines – “The Department of Health (DOH) must be designated as the official and permanent head of the Philippine delegation to the Conference of the Parties 11 (COP11) of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).”

This was Senator Pia Cayetano’s recommendation in her Chairperson’s Report as Chair of the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee of June 30, 2025. Senator Cayetano’s report came out following the Committee’s inquiry into the conduct of the Philippine delegation to the WHO FCTC COP10 in February 2024. 

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body of the WHO FCTC, tasked to oversee the implementation of the tobacco control treaty. The COP, comprised of State-parties to the treaty, meets every two years.

The report found that the Philippines’ 34-person delegation in 2024 delayed the proceedings, echoed tobacco industry arguments, and pushed for policies that weakened public health measures. This ultimately led to the delegation receiving the country’s fifth “Dirty Ashtray” award – given to countries that derail the objectives of the COP by prioritizing tobacco industry interests over public health objectives.

The 2024 delegation was led by the Office of the President’s then Senior Deputy  Executive Secretary.

The Chairperson’s Report further found that agencies such as the Department of Education and Department of Foreign Affairs have already recommended that the DOH be installed as permanent head of delegation. 

The DOH has also consistently communicated its willingness and competence to lead the Philippine delegation.

The report reads: “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]. 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 will take place in Geneva, Switzerland from November 17 to 22, 2025.

Public interest law group ImagineLaw welcomed the findings and the report’s recommendations.

“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,” San Luis added.

The Philippines is mandated, under Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC, to prioritize public health objectives for tobacco control and prevent the tobacco industry from influencing public health policies. This policy is implemented, among others, through a joint memorandum circular issued in 2010 by the DOH and the Civil Service Commission.