Poor but heavy smokers: Pinoys are now Southeast Asia's top tobacco consumers, Ona says

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines is now Southeast Asia’s number one tobacco-consuming country with every Filipino smoker puffing an estimated 1,073 sticks yearly, according to (DOH) Department of Health  Secretary Enrique Ona. 

“It is alarming that the Philippines is now the number one smoking country in Southeast Asia," Ona told legislators Thursday during the Senate hearing on the sin tax bill.