Saturnino Distor, president of the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA)
MANILA, Philippines–Filipino tobacco farmers are calling on government officials to protect their industry and livelihoods ahead of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control’s (FCTC) upcoming Conference of the Parties (COP).
This plea also comes in the wake of the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) announcement of a five-year plan aimed at expanding the nation’s tobacco production areas.
The FCTC’s COP is set to assess global tobacco control measures, posing potential concerns for the livelihoods of those within the tobacco farming community.
“Our lives are deeply intertwined with tobacco farming. It is a way of life and our means of survival amid harsh economic headwinds. It sustains our farmers, their dependents, and their communities,” said Leonardo Montemayor, former agriculture secretary and board chairman of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF).
“With the DA roadmap affirming its long-term support for tobacco farming, we hope that the Philippine government will take that commitment to heart when championing our industry in this upcoming COP,” Montemayor said.
Saturnino Distor, president of the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA), emphasized the potential benefits of aligning the Philippine delegation’s advocacy with the DA’s roadmap, including the Sustainable Tobacco Enhancement Program (STEP).
This program aims to enhance indigenous tobacco cultivation, especially in Mindanao, with an eye towards safer tobacco alternatives like vapes and e-cigarettes.
“Kita naman sa STEP na may kinabuksan ang pagsasaka ng tabako dito sa Pilipinas. Lalo at meron na ngayong mas safe na alternatibong produktong may tabako tulad ng vapes at e-cigarettes,” Distor said, suggesting a hopeful future for the industry.
The COP, rescheduled for February 5 to 10 in Panama after a previous cancellation, will examine the impact of novel and emerging tobacco and nicotine products on global regulations and public health. Critics of the WHO FCTC have argued that its policies are overly restrictive against such products, despite harm reduction being a key component of tobacco control.
Leonardo Montemayor, former Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Board Chairman of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF)
Distor further highlighted the critical role tobacco farming plays in supporting millions of farmers and workers, expressing concerns over the future of alternative tobacco products and, by extension, the livelihoods of farmers.
“Ang pagtatanim ng tabako ang bumubuhay sa milyon-milyong magsasaka at sa kanilang mga pamilya kasama na ang mga mangagawang kabilang sa industriyang ito,” he said.
The DA’s National Tobacco Administration (NTA) has introduced STEP to bolster the tobacco sector and ensure its sustainability.
Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano noted the industry’s significant contribution to local economies and the potential for indigenous tobacco to improve the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
In 2022, the tobacco sector was instrumental in generating over P160 billion in excise tax collections, underscoring its importance to over 2.1 million Filipino workers and the national economy.