SAN FABIAN—The head of a tobacco farmers group has called for the appointment of a tobacco czar who will strictly administer the implementation of the law to prevent the rampant tobacco smuggling activities in the country.

Saturnino Distor, president of Philippine Tobacco  Growers Association (PTGA) made the call as he expressed his sentiment on the government’s lack of zeal to curb the illicit tobacco trade in the Philippines despite the existing anti-smuggling laws in the country.

“Sana makapag-appoint na sila ng tobacco czar  na titingin ng smuggling dito sa ating bansa (I hope the government appoints a tobacco czar who will look into the smuggling activities here in our country),” Distor said in an interview with reporters in San Fabian, Pangasinan.

“(Dapat) matapang siya, (at) kaya niyang ipagtanggol ang ating (industriya) kaya niyang banggain ang mga smugglers groups, may mga connection din siya. Parang sindikato din yan, at kaya niyang isulong ang mga batas para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga farmers (He should be brave and can defend the industry, he must be able to confront smuggler groups, at the same time have connections. These are syndicates, so he must also be able to push for laws for the benefit of farmers,” he said.

Distor also expressed hope the government would find ways to support local growers saying that many of them no longer find the industry a reliable source of livelihood.

He also lamented seeing some farmers opting to buy smuggled cigarettes which are cheaper and cost about P30 to P80 per packs, compared to the locally-manufactured ones that cost P120 or higher.

“Eh siyempre ka-compete pa nila yung mga smuggling companies, groups, kacompete pa nila yun. Kami sa mga farmers naaapektuhan kami dun (Of course, they would have to compete with smuggling companies, groups. They are a competition. We farmers are affected),” the PTGA president said.

The call for a tobacco czar comes as the country celebrates this year’s Tobacco Festival.

In Candon City, Ilocos Sur, Philippine Tobacco Institute (PTI) President Jericho Nograles emphasized the need to close legal loopholes, not only to curb illicit trade, but to also help them to achieve revenue goals, ensure a balanced approach to tobacco control and safeguard consumers.

Nograles expressed his support for House Bill No. 11286, which is now pending at the House of Representatives. The proposal seeks the adoption of a track and trace (T&T) system for tobacco products to counter smuggling and address other gaps.

HB 11268 also seeks the creation of an Anti-Illegal Trade (AIT) Council to oversee the implementation of the proposed law.

During a recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, the PTI outlined several factors fueling illicit trade, including the Philippines’ vast coastline, its proximity to major illicit product suppliers and the high profitability of smuggling, which outpaces law enforcement efforts.

“These conditions prove that enforcement alone is not enough. A more comprehensive strategy is needed to address the root causes of illicit trade,” Nograles said.

The PTI president said these illicit tobacco traders are exploiting the price gap between legal and illegal products that is why, despite the annual tax hikes which are intended to curb cigarette consumption, the smoking incidence in the country continue to rise due to smuggling.

“Revisiting the annual tax increases and stabilizing the legitimate market will remove financial incentives for smugglers and criminal syndicates to flood the market with untaxed cigarettes,” he said.