title: Addressing the tobacco epidemic in the Philippines: progress since ratification of the WHO FCTC.
abstract: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, and is estimated to kill more than 5 million persons each year worldwide. Tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke pose a major public health problem in the Philippines. Effective tobacco control policies are enshrined in the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a legally binding international treaty that was ratified by the Philippines in 2005. Since 2007, Bloomberg Philanthropies has supported the accelerated reduction of tobacco use in many countries, including the Philippines. Progress in the Philippines is discussed with particular emphasis on the period since ratification of the WHO FCTC, and with particular focus on the grants programme funded by the Bloomberg Initiative. Despite considerable progress, significant challenges are identified that must be addressed in future if the social, health and economic burden from the tobacco epidemic is to be alleviated.
authors.affiliation: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Edinburgh Office,  Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bellew
authors.affiliation: Republic of the Philippines Department of Health, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antonio
authors.affiliation: Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Limpin
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alzona
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization-Western Pacific Region, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trinidad
authors.affiliation: South-East Asia Tobacco Control Alliance, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dorotheo
authors.affiliation: Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yapchiongco
authors.affiliation: Republic of the Philippines Department of Health, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
authors.affiliation: Republic of the Philippines Department of Health, Manila, The Philippines.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anden
authors.affiliation: World Lung Foundation, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alday
keywords: FCTC; The Philippines; World Health Organization; smoking; tobacco control; tobacco smoke pollution