OPHO warns tobacco smoking fuels Kalinga’s leading causes of death

“…out of all the causes of deaths ti taga-Kalinga… caused by non-communicable diseases… ti ramot na, tobacco smoking.” — OPHO II Dr. Edward Tandingan

Tabuk City, Kalinga – The Kalinga Office of the Provincial Health Officer (OPHO) has identified non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as the province's leading cause of death, with tobacco smoking remaining one of the major risk factors contributing to these illnesses.

Speaking during the Provincial Government of Kalinga's regular flag-raising ceremony on July 6 at the Kalinga Sports Center in Bulanao, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward Tandingan underscored the importance of preventing lifestyle-related diseases as part of the observance of the 52nd Nutrition Month.

According to Tandingan, tobacco smoking significantly increases the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory illnesses, and several types of cancer.

"...we should recognize that tobacco smoke is harmful to health—awan ngay ti duwa-dwa na diyay. Tobacco smoking kills... the main influencers sa pag-develop ng non-communicable diseases are lifestyle diseases, like for example, tobacco smoking. Studies have shown that 60% of all non-communicable diseases are adda ti nagtaudan na—adda ti ramot na—tobacco smoking," he said.

Tandingan said these illnesses remain among the leading causes of sickness and death not only in Kalinga but across the country. He also emphasized the heavy financial burden brought about by chronic diseases, noting that treatment can cost between ₱3,000 and ₱6,000 per dialysis session, making long-term care financially challenging for many families.

"...i-relate tayo ti ili tayo nga Kalinga, if you look at our causes of morbidity, causes of deaths—out of all the millions of causes of deaths ti taga-Kalinga ket kendatayo are the non-communicable diseases... napaka-expensive magkaroon ng NCD. For example, diabetes mellitus type 2—ti remedy na lang diyay ket nu ag-fail diyay kidney, you'll have to go dialysis which is P3,000 to P6,000 a week. And if you multiply that for the whole year—you would see that it is very expensive to have NCDs," he said.

Tandingan urged residents to adopt healthier lifestyles, quit tobacco use, and undergo regular health screening, stressing that prevention is far less costly than treating chronic diseases.

The health advisory forms part of the OPHO's "Smoke and Vape-Free Spaces" campaign, which seeks to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of tobacco smoking and vaping while promoting healthier, smoke-free communities throughout the province.

Most deaths linked to NCDs

In 2023, Tandingan disclosed through a local media interview that 74.4 percent of all deaths in Kalinga were caused by non-communicable diseases, while 13.6 percent of deaths were attributed to tobacco smoking.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), non-communicable diseases account for 68.5 percent of all deaths in the Philippines, with heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases remaining the country's leading killers.

The WHO also estimates that 14.4 percent of all deaths nationwide—equivalent to around 95,500 deaths each year—are attributable to tobacco use.