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Tobacco farmers are pushing for the enactment of stricter vape regulations to combat the surge in illegal and disposable products that are harming their livelihoods.

Nearly a hundred thousand members of the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA) and the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC) called on the national government to push through the Vaporized Nicotine and Non-Nicotine Products Regulation Act (RA 11900).

The bill entails the government's responsibility to regulate vape and novel tobacco products from importation, manufacturing, sale, distribution, and others for the public’s well-being.

READ: Government considers ban on disposable vapes

This was created due to the rapid demand for vapes from consumers, affecting thousands of farmers.

Besides the act benefitting the public, this could also protect the livelihood of tobacco farmers. About 2.2 million Filipinos financially depend on tobacco growing, with 430,000 or 19.5 percent of this being farmers, farm workers, and their families, according to the National Tobacco Administration (NTA).

Subsequently, tobacco farmers in Lidlidda, Ilocos shared that succession is a recurring problem in the tobacco livelihood.

PTGA President Ka Turning Distor noted that the demand for locally produced tobacco leaves among domestic manufacturers is significantly dropping due to the growing market of illicit cigarettes.

“Illegal vapes further endangers the livelihood of thousands of Filipinos who rely on the tobacco industry for sustenance since these are replacing legal, tax-paid cigarettes as well,” he said. 

“Unlike heated tobacco sticks, vapes do not contain dried tobacco leaves and has no direct benefit to tobacco farmers. Illegal vapes only benefit smugglers and crooked retailers since they don’t even pay taxes. We need the help of the government to stop this ‘vapedemic’ and save the local tobacco industry,” the PTGA chief added.

NAFTAC Chairman Bernard Vicente stressed that other businessmen disregard the act as they continue to smuggle and distribute illegal vapes to the public.

Aside from the tobacco leaf demand decreasing, Distor explained that support from the local government units (LGUs) has been cut back, stating “less excise tax collections from tobacco means less support for us farmers.”

The tobacco excise taxes are allocated to Philhealth, the Department of Health (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program, the national budget, and finally to the tobacco-producing provinces.

Because of the lessened tobacco demand, excise taxes this drop from P176 billion in 2021 to P160 billion in 2022.