DSWD, DOH, CSC aligning policies on donations from tobacco firms

The Department of Social Welfare, the Civil Service Commission, and the Department of Health are working to align policies and regulations on donations from players in the tobacco industry.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao made the statement after the Department of Justice released a legal opinion on donations from tobacco companies.

“The DOJ opinion should not be viewed as a promotion for tobacco consumption. We are committed to adhering to the provisions of the CSC-DOH Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) and in our international commitments to the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC),” Dumlao said.

In a six-page legal opinion released on Thursday, the DOJ said that the DSWD may accept donations from individuals or companies within the tobacco industries as the CSC and DOH Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2010-01 only prohibited government officials and employees from doing so.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian had sought the DOJ's opinion on accepting donations from a tobacco company after one firm gave three mobile clinics for the use of social welfare and disaster response operations..

“The DSWD acknowledges the opinion of the DOJ. Rest assured that we will also work with the CSC and DOH to ensure consistency in interpreting our existing policies and regulations regarding donations from individuals or businesses related to the tobacco industry,” Dumlao added. —NB, GMA Integrated News