Regional updates archive

21 March 2017: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has changed his mind on the controversial tobacco bill and has signed a presidential letter permitting the House

19 March 2017: DAVAO CITY–There is always a constant sense of paranoia among smokers in this city. And it’s easy to spot them. That included

16 March 2017: In an about face move that demonstrated stronger support for the country’s public health, the government said on Wednesday that it refused to deliberate

11 March 2017: As the deadline for the government to respond to the House of Representatives’ second attempt to deliberate the controversial tobacco bill approaches,

10 March 2017: THE Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) has called upon the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to end its ties with the tobacco

9 March 2017: SINGAPORE — More than two years after it started mulling over the move, Singapore will join places such as New York City

7 March 2017: MANILA, Philippines (Updated 3:40 p.m.) — President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the arrest of the owner of Mighty Corporation following reports that someone had tried

7 March 2017: Malacañang on Tuesday confirmed that there was an attempt to bribe President Rodrigo Duterte. “Actually that’s really a matter of Cabinet conversation.

2 March 2016: The local government on Thursday launched “Task Force Usok” to intensify its anti-smoking campaign in all private establishments and public places here.

3 March 2017: The National Legislative Assembly on Friday passed the final reading of the Tobacco Control Bill, which raises the minimum age to legally

2 March 2017: SINGAPORE —  Allowing the use of heated tobacco products here could draw a much larger group of users — especially among youth

1 March 2017: BALANGA CITY: This component city of Bataan recently held “Zumbale” or dancing while walking to conclude the healthy lifestyle month of February

28 February 2017: Cigarette smoking significantly affects the lives of many Filipinos whether directly or indirectly. In fact, dating back to 2009, based on the

25 February 2017: Cardiologists of the Manila Medical Center (Manila Med) and Philippine Heart Association (PHA) joined medical communities and health advocates in calling on

24 February 2017: Gap between rich and poor has grown faster in Indonesia than in any other country in Southeast Asia, Oxfam reports. A report

23 February 2017: by Henrylito B. Tacio After staying for a few days in a hospital last December due to asthmatic bronchitis, Manila Mayor Joseph

22 February 2017: THE Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities, Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong, is asking for stakeholders’ feedback on the best way to

18 February 2017: Tobacco-related deaths are a commercially propagated epidemic. Each year, smoking kills more than six million people, a tenth of them the innocent

21 February 2017: Jakarta (ANTARA News) – Seventeen health organizations in Indonesia have issued a joint declaration urging President Joko Widodo to reject the draft

18 February 2017: “A man without a vision always falls for his past,” reads Aditia Purnomo’s t-shirt, as he sits in his office west of

13 February 2017: MANILA, Philippines – Despite the delay in the approval of an executive order, the Department of Health (DOH) has remained firm in

13 February 2017: Manila City Mayor Joseph Estrada answers questions during a briefing, January 2016. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada on Monday

9 February 2017: Cigarette consumption in the country declined last year by 1.4 billion packs which revenue authorities attributed to the graphic health warnings printed

31 January 2017: 31 January 2017, Manila – The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) asserts that former National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Director General

4 February 2017: PETALING JAYA: Smoking zones in open-air public transport stops, air-conditioned food outlets and stadiums are no more, said Health director-general Datuk Dr

29 January 2017: The Finance Department said it will oppose a bill reverting to the two-tier tax system on cigarette packs in the country once

23 January 2017: Within almost six months of a sub-decree going into effect requiring graphic warnings on all cigarette packages, Health Minister Mam Bunheng issued

20 January 2017: TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The city of Yogyakarta will soon introduce a bylaw to regulate smoke-free areas in a bid to control tobacco

17 January 2017: MANILA, Philippines – With cigarettes remaining to be a leading cause of preventable premature deaths, tobacco control measures are highly cost-effective and

15 January 2017: Tobacco-control advocates are seeking the signing of an executive order (EO) that bans smoking in public places. Statistics show that 10 Filipinos

12 January 2017: Designated smoking points are making their mark along the Orchard Road shopping belt, as the area inches towards becoming smoke-free. Last month,

12 January 2017: The government may completely ban tobacco companies from advertising their products on television and radio in the future, according to a tobacco

5 January 2017: THIS refers to the article “Groups hit Civil Service official for pushing ban on e-cigarettes” by Claudeth Mocon-Ciriaco published on print and online

19 December 2016: MANILA, Philippines – Arguing that its potential health risks remain undetermined, the Department of Health (DOH) and the Civil Service Commission (CSC)

19 November 2016: MANILA, Philippines – The country’s employers have expressed concern on the passage of House Bill 4144, saying that the measure — which

16 December 2016: MANILA – A single tax rate for cigarettes, which will take effect next year, will make revenue collection easier for the government,

13 December 2016: The House of Bebot Alvarez, Rudy Fariñas, Eric Singson, Dakila Cua, et al rubber-stamped a weak and controversial tobacco tax bill. Attempting

14 December 2016: The Supreme Court has annulled a government road map designed to boost national tobacco production, ruling that the plan is incompatible with

13 December 2016: Victory — Indonesian anti-tobacco coalition members express their support following a decision by the Supreme Court to annul the Industry Ministry’s tobacco