Business NEWS

The National Seed Industry Council (NSIC) has approved for registration the Native Batek Chewing tobacco varieties, Lampangog and Sinai, during the 38th NSIC Technical Secretariat Meeting.

Members of medical professional associations and public health experts have called on Monday, Aug. 16 for stronger tobacco control measures as part of the country’s response against the ongoing pandemic.

The Philippines received the highest score among its peers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of improvement in cigarette tax policy, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

Amid the decreasing hectarage of tobacco farms, the National Tobacco Administration (NTA) is determined to assist farmers grow their tobacco production through a contract-growing scheme, seedling assistance, modernization, among others.NTA Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares Jr. said the ongoing pandemic and effects of recent calamities on tobacco farms give his agency more resolve to assist tobacco growers.“They are essential to our economy, the backbone of the industry, and they should be given the support that they deserve,” he added.

Cigarette-maker Japan Tobacco International (Philippines) Inc. (JTI) may further increase its procurement of locally produced tobacco next year to support famers reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic.