Manila 2nd district Rep. Rolando Valeriano has urged law enforcement agencies to shift their focus from merely confiscating illicit tobacco products to ensuring that those responsible are successfully prosecuted and convicted. Valeriano, chairman of the House Committee on Public Order and Safety,...
TOKYO (Jiji Press) -- Japan 's health ministry on Thursday (July 9) proposed forgoing tightening regulations on heated tobacco products to the same extent as for cigarettes, as part of a review of measures against passive smoking. A panel of experts set up by the ministry broadly agreed on...
The Caraga region in Mindanao has become the country’s leading hotspot for illegal tobacco trade after posting the highest volume of police seizures in the first six months of 2026. From January to June 2026, the Philippine National Police (PNP) seized P3.31 billion worth of illicit cigarettes in...
The country’s tobacco production is expected to remain unchanged from last year’s output of more than 51 million kilos as farmers scale down their planting amid an overproduction of tobacco, according to the National Tobacco Administration (NTA). NTA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer...
Public health advocates and lawmakers renewed calls for the immediate passage of the proposed Smoke-Free and Vape-Free Environment Bill amid concerns over increasing tobacco and vape use among Filipino youth. The appeal was made during a gathering in Quezon City in line with World No Tobacco Day...
A congressman from up north is calling for an intensified campaign against the illicit tobacco trade, which he says continues to cost the government billions in foregone revenue. According to Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos, such continued leakage of revenue hampers the delivery of much-needed...
Japan Tobacco International’s (JTI) Philippine unit agreed to purchase an additional 3.32 million kilograms of green-weight tobacco leaf from domestic farmers, moving to stabilize a market reeling from a massive supply glut. The decision comes after overproduction in the northern provinces of...
National Tobacco Administration (NTA) said it has secured the commitment of traders and cigarette manufacturers to purchase all flue-cured Virginia (FCV) tobacco leaves produced this season to protect farmers from a potential buying freeze amid a projected oversupply of the commodity. In a...
Alleged illegal China tobacco cigarettes worth P2.7 million were confiscated from two individuals during a checkpoint operation in Pililla, Rizal on Saturday, May 23. The Rizal Police Provincial Office (Rizal PPO) said a driver and a sales boy were arrested for violating Republic Act No. 9211, or...
The Philippine government lost more than ₱80 billion in tax revenues in 2025 due to illicit tobacco and e-vapor activities, making the country the primary source of illegal vape leakages in Southeast Asia. This fiscal drain is a key finding of the latest study by the European Union-Association of...
Smuggled cigarettes and raw tobacco materials worth ₱3.3 billion were confiscated by the Bureau of Customs (BOC) in Agusan del Norte province during a major operation aimed at curbing illicit trade that has been eroding government revenues in recent years. The seizure, involving 54 container...
CANDON CITY, Ilocos Sur – Fifteen candidates representing eight branches of the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) will compete in the Miss Tobacco Philippines 2026 pageant on Friday, March 20. The event is one of the highlights of the month-long 2026 Tobacco Festival that coincides with the...
