Regional updates archive

30 May 2019 AUNG PHAY KYI SOE The Ministry of Health and Sports is working on a draft amendment to the Control of Smoking and Consumption

Bangkok, 31 May 2019 – As Thailand joins the world in marking World No Tobacco Day on 31 May, nearly 200 of its citizens will die

28 May 2019 Jeffrey Damicog Malacanang has certified as urgent the bill which proposes the imposition of higher excise tax on tobacco products. Justice Secretary

May 30 2019 Pech Sotheary City Hall officials and civil society organisations yesterday urged leaders of educational institutions to strengthen smoke-free environments in a bid

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 30 May 2019: As part of the World No Tobacco Day 2019 celebrations, the Boy Scouts of Cambodia, the Red Cross Youth

27 May 2019 Legislators are expected to be busy in the next two weeks tackling the issue of whether taxes on so-called “sin” products such

28 May 2019 Butch Fernandez SENATORS firmed up an emerging consensus Monday to raise cigarette excise tax on top of stiffer penalties against illicit tobacco

28 May 2019 Though Thailand still has over 10 million smokers, who praises government’s efforts to curb addiction to cigarettes SMOKING kills on average more

28 May 2019 Darryl John Esguerra  MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte has certified as urgent Senate Bill No. 2233 which seeks to increase the

28 May 2019 PUBLIC Health Minister Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn assured yesterday that a lawsuit against a leading tobacco firm over tax-evasion charges would continue as normal.

20 May 2019 Filane Mikee Cervantes MANILA – Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Monday pushed for the passage of a bill seeking to increase excise taxes on

18 May 2019 Aileen Cerrudo The Department of Finance (DOF) said there will be a funding gap of P62 billion for the recently passed Universal

18 May 2019 Ben O. de Vera The government, through the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Health (DOH), has unleashed a one-two

17 May 2019 Ma. Teresa Montemayor MANILA — Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday stressed the importance of passing the pending sin

13 May 2019 Katharina R. Lestari A local ban on smoking has help transform a Jakarta slum into a healthy living environment Catholic layman Azas Tigor Nainggolan initiated a

7 May 2019 Sofia Tomacruz The Pulse Asia survey also shows 75% of Filipinos believe taxes on cigarettes should be raised MANILA, Philippines – Seven

9 May 2019 In partnership with SEATCA and the Smoke-free Cities Asia Pacific Network (SCAN), the Province of Siem Reap together with the Ministry of

5 May 2019 Sheila Crisostomo MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III yesterday pushed anew for an increase in tobacco taxes to P60 per

3 May 2019 Mohamed Basyir GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is currently studying a proposal to make the state free of cigarette smoke, with a

Jimenez, Misamis Occidental, 8 March 2019: In partnership with SEATCA and the Smoke-free Cities Asia Pacific Network (SCAN), the Municipality of Jimenez in Misamis Occidental,

24 April 2019 Khouth Sophak Chakrya Health experts on Tuesday called on the government to save Cambodian lives by raising tobacco taxes and use the

24 April 2019 Sen David Health experts are calling for the government to increase tobacco tax and use the money to expand health care benefits

18 April 2019 Chito Chavez An anti-smoking advocate insisted that law enforcers and concerned government agencies should strictly enforce the smoking ban on transport terminals

18 April 2019 Robert Kozinets Advertising agencies have cleverly leveraged social media to keep tobacco advertising under the regulation radar, University of Southern California’s Robert

Pilar, Bataan, 9 April 2019: During the commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) which marks the greatness of Filipino fighters during World

31 March 2019 Bernama MELAKA: The Health Ministry is committed to enacting a stand-alone Tobacco Control Act which designates all public places as no-smoking areas.

Singapore, 26-28 March 2019: SEATCA in close collaboration with the World Health Organization in the Western Pacific Region (WHO WPRO) and the Singapore Health Promotion

24 March 2019 Viviane Apostol and Carlos Jacinto “There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women,” according to Kofi Annan,

23 March 2019 Sun Star ANTI-SMOKING advocates renewed on Friday, March 22, their call for higher tax rates for cigarettes saying it would be beneficial

17 March 2019 Joshua Uyheng As May elections draw near, legislators are faced with the daunting task of reflecting upon — and marketing — their

11 March 2019 Politiko Central Luzon: Bataan 2nd District Representative Jose Enrique “Joet” Garcia III hailed Sunday the local government of Pilar, Bataan and its

11 March 2019 Charissa Luci-Atienza  Manila Bulletin: Bataan Rep. Jose Enrique Garcia III wants to restrict the importation, manufacture, use, sale, distribution and advertisement of

11 March 2019 Dian Septiari JakartaPost: The tobacco industry is trying to ride the wave of women’s empowerment that is celebrated globally every March, as

4 March 2019 Wassayos Ngamkham Bangkok Post: Police arrested 23 people and seized 2,856 hookahs, e-cigarettes and vaping solution, worth more than 900,000 baht, in

8 March 2019 John Grafilo Myanmar Times: A regional anti-tobacco organisation on Thursday warned women against falling for a campaign by tobacco companies to lure women

5 March 2019 Vanne Elaine Terrazola Manila Bulletin: Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is seeking to simplify the packaging for all cigarettes and other tobacco

1 March 2019 Pech Sotheary Khmer Times: The Apsara Authority has received the Smoke-free Heritage Award from the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance and World

1 March 2019 Christia Marie Ramos Inquirer: MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Health (DOH) renewed its call for the passage of a bill that

28 February 2019 Sofia Tomacruz Rappler: Survey results show 9 out of 10 Filipinos support increasing the minimum age for the purchase of cigarettes from

2019 poll candidates challenged to support stricter tobacco control legislation Nine out of 10 adult Filipinos agree that smoking or the use of cigarettes in

27 February: SEATCA’s Smoke-free Program Manager Dr. Domilyn Villarreiz was one of the main resource speakers in the workshop to advance the campaign to make

19 February 2019 The Thaiger The Nation: The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) on Tuesday said it strongly supported Thailand’s move to ban smoking

13 February 2019 The Nation: The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) strongly supports Thailand’s move to ban smoking inside the passenger buildings in all

Yangon, 25-26 February 2018: The People’s Health Foundation (PHF) under the leadership of Dr. Than Sein organized a two-day meeting in Yangon to strengthen its tobacco

25 February 2019 Ben O, de Vera The Inquirer: Further jacking up the excise tax on cigarettes to P60 a pack, as proposed under a

19 February 2019 Gundo Weiler The Inquirer: The country’s legislators face a unique opportunity to save lives and protect the health of millions of Filipinos

18 February 2019 Pamela Mariz Geminiano Philippines News Agency: BAGUIO CITY–The Baguio smoke-free task force and city officials destroyed some PHP150,000 worth of cigarettes confiscated

12 February 2019 Lim Sun Sun Channel NewAsia: The use of global social media campaigns by multinational tobacco companies to glamourise smoking is what authorities

11 February 2019 Rei Kurohi The Straits Times: SINGAPORE – Cigarette packs sold here will soon have standardised plain packaging with larger health warnings, after