Illicit tobacco trade
MORE and more Filipinos, including government officials, believe that the continued illicit tobacco trade is now a serious national crisis in the country.
Even Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, chair of the House of Representatives’ committee on ways and means, said that revenue losses may reach P60.6 billion this year.
This, if the highly-lucrative illicit tobacco trade continues, according to Congressman Salceda, a Bicolano, acknowledged as one of the country’s top economists.
Likewise, records show that the country’s cigarette excise tax collections in 2022 declined to P160.4 billion from a high P173.9 billion the previous year.
That’s why Salceda plans to file a bill in the House of Representatives that would effectively address the rampant smuggling of cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Salceda said the bill would address everything – from smuggling to the manufacture of fake cigarettes. “We must attack the problem every stage of the value chain,” he added.
“Talagang walang kalaban-laban ang mga tunay na sigarilyo kumpara sa mga peke,” according to an elderly smoker.
In fact, Congressman Salceda said illicit cigarettes are easy to come by, and legitimate cigarettes don’t stand a chance against fake cigarettes, which are sold at low, low prices.
Without doubt, the proposed legislation would go a long way in addressing the problem of cigarette smuggling in the country.
Tobacco farmers, particularly those in Northern Luzon and other tobacco-producing provinces, said Congressman Salceda is on the right path in coming up with the bill.
It’s long overdue!
