Intl forum seek to hike drive vs illicit tobacco trade

BAGUIO CITY (October 21, 2024)— The National Tobacco Administration (NTA) will hold the second International Tobacco Summit to heighten the ante of the campaign versus the illicit tobacco trade in the country.



President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will keynote the gathering of 200 participants from the tobacco farmers sector, local and foreign tobacco companies, media personalities, and stakeholders on October 23-24, at the Seda Hotel in Quezon City. 

Anchored on the theme: “Advancing the Local Tobacco Industry and Combatting Illicit Trade,” the forum will focus on the discussion of the importance of the local tobacco industry, opportunities, challenges, and strategies for its further development, and the ongoing government efforts on the war against the illicit tobacco trade in the country. 

“Addressing the illicit tobacco trade requires a whole of national approach, and multi-faceted strategies that include strengthening national policies, enhancing regional cooperation, improving enforcement mechanisms, and increasing public awareness,” explained NTA Administrator and CEO Belinda S. Sanchez. 

To safeguard the country’s security and economic stability, Administrator Sanchez said, “there is an urgent need to strengthen both national and regional policies and enforcement mechanisms against illicit tobacco trade.”

In the past years, the Philippine tobacco industry faced significant challenges due to the persistent issue of illicit tobacco trade, the NTA said. 

The illicit tobacco trade adversely impacts government revenue, public health, national security, and the livelihoods of Filipino tobacco farmers, it added. The ongoing illegal activities within the tobacco sector pose a grave threat to the country’s institutions, creating an uneven playing field, Sanchez stressed.

“This imbalance gives illegal operators an unfair advantage, which undermines legitimate tobacco businesses and results in substantial revenue losses for the government,” she cited.

According to the NTA, the proliferation of illegal tobacco sales in the local market is causing a decline in government revenue, thus reducing funds that limit resources available for essential public services, particularly universal health care. 

The revenue lost to illegal tobacco sales empowers organized criminal groups and poses a serious threat to national security, Sanchez pointed out. “This diversion of funds fuels organized crimes, including money laundering and trafficking in humans, weapons, and illegal drugs.”

Based on the estimates of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the national government had incurred revenue losses of up to P100 billion annually due to the illicit tobacco trade. 

According to the NTA, there are 2.2 million Filipinos who are financially dependent on tobacco including more than 430,000 farmers, farm workers, and their family members.

The tobacco regulatory agency launched the first-ever international tobacco summit on August 2- 3, 2023 to emphasize the discussion on the campaign against the proliferation of illicit tobacco trade and smuggling.