Setting aside the negative effects of cigarette to smokers, do makers of such addictive product really help the society and the Philippine economy in particular?
According to some academic studies, Philippines, with a population of over 100 million, is the "15th biggest consumer of cigarettes in the world and the largest consumer among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)." Stating that cigarette makers hold a big share in the Philippine economy could be a hasty generalization but one can easily make a logical and rational justification of such claim.
Benefits of T*bacco Industry to the Philippine Government
In 2012, Republic Act No. 10351 or the new sin tax law was pushed by legislators and was implemented at the beginning of 2013. One of the cigarette makers and a Filipino-owned firm, Mighty Corporation, immediately complied with the new tax code set by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR). Mighty Corp. Executive Vice President Oscar P. Barrientos declared Php8 billion of excise tax for 2013 compared to its tax in 2012, which was only Php300 million.
Mighty Corp's share of the domestic market dramatically increased from a minimal five percent in 2012 to 20 percent of the local market for cigarettes in 2013. This positive gain enabled the firm to expand its business and triggered a huge demand of tob*cc0 leaves, which resulted to a higher income to tob*cco farmers especially MC's crop growers in the Ilocos Region.
Retired judge Oscar Barrientos also said that due to the bigger share of Mighty Corp. in the market today, MC offerred a better and competitive prices to the local t0b*cco farmers.
Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon urges the Philippine law makers to help Mighty Corp and support its campaign of providing more livelihood programs to millions of Filipino farmers.
Unconditional Efforts of Mighty Corp.
Mighty Corporation continuously and actively participates in socio-economic activities and community development as well. Through Wong Chu King Foundation Inc., named after MC's Founder, 10 students recently received scholarship grants. In 2009, Wong Chu King Foundation donated various relief goods to the victims of typhoon ‘Pepeng.’ The donations were 400 pails of assorted biscuits; 2,000 pouches of Lucky Me noodles; 14,400 bottles of purified drinking water; 2,000 bottles of alcohol, and assorted medicine.
You may continue to press the negative effects of cigarettes but I hope that you are at least aware (if not convinced) that cigarette makers play a vital role in sustaining the health of the Philippine economy and it provides legal income to millions of poor farmers in the country.