Philippines - Philip Morris report sales higher than annual 2-3% growth..

July 20, 2010 - The Philippine unit of Philip Morris International, Inc. recently reported its sales had become higher than the average annual 2-percent to 3-percent growth, earning its place as the third biggest by volume around the world.

If the report is true, this would only lead to a public-health crisis and do more harm to the economy than good, said the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Alliance Philippines (FCAP).

“The robust growth of the tobacco industry will not likely translate to better government revenues because this will result in higher public-health expenditure to subsidize the poor who will be afflicted with smoking-related diseases,” Dr. Maricar Limpin, FCAP executive director, said in a statement.

Before, Limpin noted the Philippine unit was just within the top 25 globally by volume for Philip Morris, which distributes its products in 160 countries and is the world’s largest non-state-owned tobacco group.

“Tobacco and cigarettes, unlike any consumer product, cause fatal health consequences that any indication of increase in sales would mean more Filipinos will potentially acquire life-threatening smoking-related diseases,” Limpin said.

The government, she said, should be alarmed by this as “we would not only be losing future leaders to smoking-related diseases, we would also be spending government funds on otherwise, preventable diseases caused by addiction.”

In 2006, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) annual report showed that excise tax collection from tobacco amounted to P26.8 billion (576,344,086.02 USD), or a mere 4.1 percent of the total BIR collection during that period.

However, FCAP cited the 2005-2006 Tobacco and Poverty Study in the Philippines done by the UP College of Public Health, National Epidemiology Center of the Department of Health (DOH), and World Health Organization (WHO) which found that health-care expenditures in only four major diseases, namely, lung cancer, heart attacks, stroke, chronic obstructive lung diseases amounted to P276 billion (5,935,483,870.97 USD).

A pulmonologist by profession and vice president of the Philippine College of Chest Physicians (PCCP), Limpin said these four major diseases are known to be caused by cigarette smoking or tobacco consumption. “The burden of smoking-related diseases on the government coffers and the people’s pockets easily wipes out whatever revenues the industry claims to provide through taxes,” Limpin added.

FCAP is an alliance of medical professionals, religious groups and consumer rights activists working on curbing the smoking epidemic.

AT LEAST 250 Filipinos die each day, yes, each day, or about 90,000 a year, from smoking-related illnesses, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic diseases, and cancers, especially lung cancers. In Malaysia about 10,000, and Vietnam at least 40,000, die annually from tobacco-related conditions. Indonesia’s death toll is the worst: 400,000 a year. (Smoking kills 250 daily by Dr. Philip S. Chua, Cebu Daily News, 7/12/2009)

Reference: Group warns of dire effects of increase in cigarette sales, written by Max V. de Leon, Reporter, Business Mirror, 7/19/2010.

Philippines - some related news briefs:
Philippines - National Tobacco Assoc. will oppose any move to reduce demand for tobacco unless govt..;
Philippines - tobacco industry has obtained temporary relief from placing graphic warnings on cigarette packs..;
Philippines - govt agencies and employees barred from unnessary interaction with tobacco industry..;
Philippines - Filipino Muslims forbidden to smoke, trade cigarettes..;
Philippine congress proclaims Aquino 15th president..;
Philippines - tobacco firms claim graphic warnings on cigarette packs are illegal..;
Philippines - new president smokes but this should not slow tobacco prevention activities..:
Philippines - Department of Health wants health warnings on cigarette packs within 90 days..;
Philippines - health groups want more protection from the dangers of tobacco..;
Philippines - DOH warns government agencies to avoid partnerships or accepting donations from tobacco manufacturers..;
Philip Morris Philippines..;
Philippines - DoH pushes for picture warnings on cigarette packs..;
Philippines - PMI - FTC merger may lead smokers continuing to smoke and lure children into a life of nicotine addiction..;
Philippines - PMI and Fortune Tobacco Corp. form new company called PMFTC..;
Philippines - Tanauan City names street Philip Morris..;
Philippines - DOH campaign for 100% smoke-free workplaces..;
Philippines - total tobacco industry could be down 10% to 15% this year..;
Philippines - 2003 ban on advertising and skirting the ban..;
Philippines - June is annually observed as 'No Smoking' Month..;
Philippines may be losing the war against smoking..;
http://snus-news.blogspot.com/2008/11/philippines-thai-cigarette-import-rules.html;
Philip Morris won't postpone Philippines Eraserheads Concert..;
Philip Morris could be criminally liable for its sponsorship of the event .in the Philippines..;
STOP PMI Sponsoring Concert in Philippines..;
Philippines - Smoker to be deported...

0 comments: