Government officials and employees have been prohibited to interact with tobacco industry members under a joint circular issued by the Department of Health (DoH) and Civil Service Commission (CSC), reports Business World.

Under Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-01, government workers are banned to interact with any tobacco corporation or company, except "when strictly necessary for the latter’s effective regulation, supervision, or control."
The memorandum prohibits, among others, the acceptance of gifts, donations and sponsorships, "which may affect the functions of [government] offices" from tobacco entities. It also bans public officials and their family members from "accepting employment or recommend any one to any position in any private enterprise connected with the tobacco industry."
Health Secretary Esperanza I. Cabral said the memorandum is based on the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which the Senate ratified in 2005. (pi)