Module 12 - Development Communication and Policy

Policy:
The major consumer groups in the Philippines have bonded together to lobby for a policy that prohibits the advertising of tobacco products on radio and television.

Activity 12.1 Conduct a stakeholder analysis of the policy.
Stakeholders:
1. Tobacco companies in the Philippines
2. Tobacco companies that want to enter the Philippine market
3. Tobacco consumers
4. Tobacco non-smokers
5. Tobacco advertising companies (radio)
6. Tobacco advertising companies (television)
7. Government
8. Radio stations
9. Television stations
10. Script writers for advertisements
11. Medical field practitioners
12. Tobacco Retailers
13. Tobacco stores
14. Tobacco shipment companies
15. Religious and social groups

Activity 12.2 Use any of the enumerated methods to do a short analysis of this policy.
Problematique Analysis



Legend:


Activity 12.3 Prepare a one-paged policy brief enumerating: your stakeholders; the results of your policy analysis; and your recommendations.

Background
It is common knowledge that the tobacco smoking causes more hard than good (if any) to the smoker as well as to the people around him. Despite the warnings from health workers for public awareness, the number of smokers seems to be in the up trend.
According to Asia Times, in its March 2, 2005 issue (http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/GC02Ae01.html), the trend of smoking is increasing, and it is estimated that “nearly 5 million people die annually due to tobacco-related illnesses, a number that could rise to 10 million deaths every year by 2020 if prevailing smoking trends continue.”

Policy:
To help achieve a healthier work force in our country, a policy to prohibit the advertising of tobacco products on radio and television is discussed briefly here onwards.

Stakeholders:
1. Tobacco companies in the Philippines
2. Tobacco companies that want to enter the Philippine market
3. Tobacco consumers
4. Tobacco non-smokers
5. Tobacco advertising companies (radio)
6. Tobacco advertising companies (television)
7. Government
8. Radio stations
9. Television stations
10. Script writers for advertisements
11. Medical field practitioners
12. Tobacco Retailers
13. Tobacco stores
14. Tobacco shipment companies
15. Religious and social groups

Problematique Analysis
From the problematique map below, we see that one of the root causes of an unhealthy workforce is the proliferation of advertisement on radio and television to promote the consumption of tobacco products.



Legend:


Recommendation:
If we eliminate the tobacco advertisement over radio and television, we may achieve a healthier working population.