‘Stronger enforcement key for smoke-free Philippines

JAKARTA – Philip Morris International (PMI) is optimistic about its vision of a smoke-free future in the Philippines, but tougher implementation of regulations and curbing misinformation will be crucial.

Tomoko Iida, director of scientific engagement at PMI told reporters that the Philippines is at still in the early stages of the company’s smoke-free vision, having only seen a slight increase in the use of smoke-free alternative products and a slight decrease in cigarette consumption.

PMI is offering smoke-free products including heated tobacco, e-vapor and oral smokeless products.

These products provide nicotine without burning, making them a much better alternative to cigarettes, which produce smoke when burned and has high levels of harmful chemicals and contains solid particles.

While smoke-free products are better alternatives to cigarettes, Iida said these products are not risk-free.

Tomoko said in other countries like Sweden and Japan, cigarette consumption decreased as the uptake of smoke-free alternatives picked up.

“I really think that having the smoke-free alternative available so that the smokers can move away from cigarette and switch to this alternative is serving the population, serving the government and really meeting the public health goal,” she said.

As more people learn and get accurate information on smoke-free alternatives, Tomoko said the Philippines could also see the switch to these alternatives accelerate and in turn, a faster decline in cigarette use.

Tomoko said it may take five to seven years for the country to see a faster drop in cigarette consumption.

“But every year, you’re going to see the difference if people are either quitting or switching,” she said.

While the Philippine government has a law that regulates vape products, she said it could do more in terms of stronger enforcement.

“How the government can really enforce what they’re saying would really help the environment for the right people to switch to the (smoke-free) products,” she said.

Addressing misinformation will also be important.

“So you have availability and accessibility of products, but when consumers are misinformed that this is not a better alternative, then it’s harder for them to switch,” Tomoko said.

“So facts about nicotine, facts about smoke-free products, facts about the data or any of these things have to be accurately communicated so that the Filipino smokers have the right information and they’re able to make a better choice for themselves,” she said.