Rappler's latest stories on tobacco
Coronavirus drives Malawi tobacco farmers to the brink
Due to coronavirus restrictions, farmers in Malawi are barred from attending auctions where tobacco prices are set. They feel cheated by buyers.
British American Tobacco contests South African lockdown ban
British American Tobacco South Africa says a continued ban on legal cigarette sales threatens the sector and the livelihoods it supports
Virus lockdown darkens hopes for Zimbabwean tobacco rebound
Tobacco is Zimbabwe's second biggest foreign currency earner after gold. The industry's prospects are now clouded by the impact of the coronavirus.
No smoking 4 weeks before operation cuts risks – WHO
'Smoking just one cigarette decreases the body's ability to deliver necessary nutrients for healing after surgery,' says the study
New taxes on alcohol, tobacco await Duterte's signature
But the bill won't bring significant revenues for the implementation of the Universal Health Care law as originally planned
What case to file vs arrested vape users? ‘Wala,’ admits PNP
Asked why cops should arrest vape users if they will not file a case, police OIC Lieutenant General Archie Gamboa says, ‘Just to implement the directive of the President’
U.S. study shows chemical burns associated with e-cigarette use
But it may take more years of research to determine what exactly makes e-cigarettes dangerous
E-cigarettes: 5 things to know
E-cigarettes were initially touted as less damaging than tobacco, which causes around 8 million deaths a year
British American Tobacco stubs out 2,300 jobs, as vaping casts cloud
British American Tobacco, the maker of Dunhill and Lucky Strike cigarettes, says the job cuts would ensure savings which can be reinvested in new product categories
Thailand first in Asia to roll out plain cigarette packaging
Keeping a uniform typeface below graphic depictions of smoking-related illnesses will make the products less attractive to buyers, says Prakit Vathesatogkit, vice chair of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
CA declares Bataan city's anti-smoking ordinance unconstitutional
(UPDATED) 'The City Council of Balanga [has] overstepped Congress by passing an ordinance which imposes more prohibited acts than those specified under [RA 9211],' says the CA
Duterte approves higher excise tax for tobacco products
Under the new law, excise tax on cigarettes will go up to P45 from P35 starting January 1, 2020, to be followed by more increases in succeeding years
WHO decries Big Tobacco bid to rebrand World No Tobacco Day
WHO voices concern at attempts by Philip Morris International to co-opt international efforts for its own campaign this week promoting new vaping and heated tobacco products as part of the solution to the world's smoking epidemic
Duterte certifies as urgent bill on higher tobacco tax
The certification of Senate Bill No. 2233 as urgent allows the Senate to pass the measure on second and third and final reading on the same day
Angara sponsors bill seeking to increase tobacco taxes
The Senate ways and means committee report proposes a starting tax rate of P45 per cigarette pack in 2020, followed by a series of annual P5 increases until the rate reaches P60 in 2023
Canada appeals court upholds ruling awarding damages to smokers
The tobacco companies have one month to launch an eventual appeal before Canada's Supreme Court
Majority of Filipinos support stricter tobacco control laws – Pulse Asia
Survey results show 9 out of 10 Filipinos support increasing the minimum age for the purchase of cigarettes from 18 to 25 and prohibiting smoking in public places
'Radical rethink' needed to tackle obesity, hunger, climate – report
'Both undernutrition and obesity are expected to be made significantly worse by climate change,' says Boyd Swinburn. co-chair of The Lancet Commission on Obesity
Duterte agrees to certify bill on higher cigarette, alcohol tax as urgent
President Rodrigo Duterte backs a proposal to jack up tobacco tax to P60 per pack from P30 per pack, embodied in the bill filed by Senator Manny Pacquiao
Scientists boost plant yield by 40% through 'genetic hack'
The wider goal isn't to produce more tobacco but to apply the technique to wheat or soy beans, in order to meet mankind's growing appetite
House OKs bills increasing taxes on tobacco, alcohol starting 2019
The additional revenues from the proposed tax increases are expected to help fund universal health care
House panel approves higher tobacco tax rates starting 2019
Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo says increasing the excise taxes on cigarettes is the 'most cost-effective' way to deter Filipinos from smoking
64% of Filipinos will support candidates who push for higher tobacco taxes – Pulse Asia
Pulse Asia research director Ana Tabunda says majority of Filipinos are supportive of increases in tobacco taxes as health is considered a 'most urgent personal concern' for many
Duque asks Duterte to certify tobacco tax hike bill as urgent
The Department of Health wants excise tax on cigarettes to be increased to P90 per pack from the current P32.50
Workers laid off by Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco call for 'due process'
The over 200 laid off workers say the change in corporate structure was not explained to them
U.N. treaty cracks down on heated tobacco products
A consultant to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control ranks heated tobacco as less harmful than cigarettes but more deadly than e-cigarettes
Health advocates urge gov't to increase tobacco tax
'If we do not implement [higher] tax at this time, by the time President Duterte steps down, we will actually have one million new smokers,' says Dr Ulysses Dorotheo of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance
DOH: 'Barely any evidence' to prove e-cigarettes safe
The DOH says that with 'the lack of conclusive data regarding the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes, its health risks cannot be ignored'
Cigarette prices to increase more with passage of universal health care bill
Health Secretary Duque says the increase in revenues from higher sin taxes will be a major source of funds for the universal health care law
Shootout in Bacolod kills 3, injures 3
The two suspects have just robbed a panel van of a cigarette firm in neighboring Bago City when police chanced upon them at the city boundary
Want to avoid a broken heart? Quit smoking, says DOH
For 2018, the Department of Health adopts the World Health Organization's theme for World No Tobacco Day which emphasizes the link between smoking and heart disease
Heartbreaker? Smoking causing millions of heart attacks, strokes – WHO
On World No Tobacco Day, the World Health Organization hails that smoking has declined significantly since year 2000, but warns that there are still far too many people indulging in the dangerous habit
Smoking: A rundown on lighting up
Here are some facts and figures ahead of the United Nations' World No Tobacco Day Thursday, May 31
Ever heard of thirdhand smoke?
How many generations of smoke does science need to uncover before we accept that tobacco is the most dangerous natural product we have invented?
What happens to LGUs that don’t enforce the smoking ban?
The DILG has monitored 450 cities and municipalities that are not enforcing President Duterte's Executive Order 26, but the agency has yet to file any administrative cases against officials
Tobacco-producing LGUs in Ilocos Sur fail to implement smoking ban
The DILG says Candon City and Santa Cruz town have 'full compliance' with the smoking ban executive order, but Rappler's visits to the two areas show otherwise
Customs seizes cigarettes smuggled from China
The Bureau of Customs says the cigarettes, worth P18.5 million, were misdeclared as 'industrial artificial fur texture'
House summons Imee Marcos, Ilocos Norte officials to another probe
This isn't the first time that the Ilocos Norte governor and former House member is summoned to a probe by the House committee on good government and public accountability
LOOK: New graphic health warnings on tobacco products starting 2018
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III says the law mandates changing the templates every two years because smokers eventually become 'immune' to the graphic health warnings
Michael Bloomberg to launch $20-M anti-tobacco watchdog
The monitor, to be called Stopping Tobacco Organizations and Products, will seek to counter the industry's influence by publishing reports detailing pro-smoking activities and tactics
Tax collected from Mighty up by P4 billion monthly since JTI takeover
Excise tax payments on Mighty brands surge by 262% to P20.22 billion from September to December 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, when Mighty was still controlled by its previous owners
The Philippines' biggest business deals in 2017
The country's conglomerates have acquired everything from digital payment tech to coal power plants this year, as they acquire the tools they hope will shape the economy’s future
Big tobacco wins in smoke-friendly Southeast Asia, says report
The report says some of the world's highest concentrations of tobacco users are in Indonesia, where 76.2 percent of males aged 15 or older smoke; Vietnam, and the Philippines
Students urge undecided senators to back proposed tobacco tax hike
Students write letters to undecided senators, hoping to convince them to support the move to raise the levy on sin products, especially tobacco
Holy smoke! Pope Francis bans selling of cigarettes in Vatican
'The reason is very simple: the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that clearly damages the health of people,' says a Vatican City statement
Japan firm rewards non-smokers with additional holidays
A Tokyo-based online firm gives non-smoking employees 6 additional days' holiday to compensate for the time their colleagues spend puffing away at work
#ThewRap: Videos you need to watch this week, October 9-15, 2017
Must-watch videos from this week
SWS survey, PNP and AFP, Narco-generals | Evening wRap
Watch the evening newscast with Mara Cepeda
House panel considers plunder charges vs Imee Marcos
'She is the most responsible person in all these transactions,' says the chairman of a committee investigating alleged anomalies in the use of the province's tobacco funds
Heritage expert thought Paoay museum was Marcos family project
Eric Zerrudo says he was paid in cash, making him think it was indeed a family-funded project
