Health group raps Tanauan City execs for naming street after cigarette brand

BATANGAS, Philippines – A health alliance threatened to sue the mayor and councilors of Tanauan City in this province for naming a street after a cigarette brand.

Dr. Maricar Limpin, executive director of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP), said the city government approved through a city council resolution the naming of a street in Barangay Pantay Bata as “Philip Morris Street,” which she described as unlawful and morally incorrect.  

“Putting up a street sign bearing the name of a cigarette brand is not only a violation of an existing national law, but is utterly unmindful of and insensitive to the health of the constituents as it honors a product that has consistently contributed to 10 Filipino deaths a day,” Limpin said.

In a letter sent to Tanauan Mayor Sonia Torres-Aquino and the city council last Tuesday, the FCAP warned that they will be constrained to file administrative and criminal cases should the city officials persist in putting up that street sign bearing the name of “Philip Morris.”

The group said that under the Tobacco Regulation Act or Republic Act 9211, a street sign falls under the category of “advertising,” specifically “outdoor advertising,” because it is a visual message or a “sign” intended for the public which gives publicity by words or images about or on a particular product, in this case, Philip Morris.

Section 22 of RA 9211 prohibits all forms of outdoor advertising starting July 1, 2007, Lim said.

Limpin said Section 4 of the same law defines “advertisement” as “any visual and/or audible message disseminated to the public about or on a particular product that promotes and gives publicity by words, designs, images or any other means through broadcast, electronic, print or whatsoever form of mass media, including outdoor advertisements, such as but not limited to signs and billboards.”

“We strongly urge the local leaders to refrain from carrying out the mandate of the Sangguniang Bayan resolution naming one of its streets as ‘Philip Morris’ and putting up that street sign bearing the name of ‘Philip Morris,’” Limpin added.

The Tanauan City council passed the resolution naming a road in Barangay Pantay Bata as “Philip Morris Street” as a way of expressing its appreciation for the tobacco company’s support for the town, which hosts one of its factories in the country.

“Whatever support extended by Philip Morris to the city directly contradicts the primary objective of the corporation – to sell more cigarettes and peddle death in the process,” Limpin said.

Councilor Edilberto Quilao, who authored the resolution, said the Sangguniang Barangay of Pantay Bata and some 160 residents belonging to different organizations held an assembly on Nov. 20 last year agreed to name the street to Philip Morris because of the company’s valuable contribution to their community.

“There being no legal prohibition to name a certain place before someone and considering the unanimity of the Sangguniang Barangay and the residents, the resolution was approved,” Quilao said.

Quilao added that based on Section 13 of Republic Act 7160, “this refers to the change of name not assigning a name for the first time.”

Lawyer Jun Trinidad, Tanauan City administrator, said Torres-Aquino did not sign any documents approving the resolution.

“Mayor Sonia did not sign any documents because it’s not an ordinance, it’s just a mere resolution, it doesn’t need the signature of the mayor,” he said.