The Philippine Tobacco Growers Association (PTGA) estimates local farmers could lose ₱978.44 million in 2025 due to the continued rise in cigarette smuggling. The group said around 11.8 billion sticks of illicit cigarettes are expected to flood the market next year, displacing roughly 9.4 million kilograms of locally grown tobacco.
With a farmgate price of ₱104.09 per kilo, each of PTGA’s 59,000 members could lose an average of ₱17,000 annually. This follows ₱784.52 million in estimated losses in 2024.
PTGA president Saturnino Distor warned that smuggling not only hurts farmers but the entire tobacco value chain, which supports 2.2 million Filipinos. He added that some smuggled cigarettes pose health risks, with reports of contamination from drugs, lead, and other harmful substances.
Distor urged stronger enforcement, citing the recent Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Law. He also noted the government loses up to ₱40 billion a year in tax revenue due to the illegal trade—funds that could support public healthcare programs.
“Farmers aren’t asking for special treatment,” Distor said. “We’re asking for protection and fairness.”
