Philip Morris International (PMI) is calling for closer cooperation among government, scientists and industry to accelerate the adoption of smoke-free products in the Philippines, saying scientific innovation must be matched by supportive policies, consumer awareness and product accessibility.
At its first Technovation Manila summit on November 10, the company pushed for a policy framework that combines regulated access, consumer information, product choice and affordability with safeguards against underage use.
PMI regional president Vassilis Gkatzelis said technological advances alone would not accelerate the transition unless adult smokers had access to alternatives they found acceptable and could make informed choices.
“The reason we’re organizing this event is that we believe we can go much faster if we all work together,” he said.
PMI estimates that about 200,000 adults in the Philippines use its smoke-free products, compared with roughly 14 million adult smokers, highlighting the gap between current adoption and the potential market for alternatives.
The company said its innovation program focuses on improving product electronics and consumables, with research guided by adult smokers’ preferences. Globally, PMI has invested more than USD16 billion in smoke-free research and development since 2008.
A key part of its policy advocacy is differentiated regulation for conventional cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine products. Gkatzelis said such an approach should go hand in hand with enforcement, youth protection, and sustained smoking prevention and cessation programs.
He acknowledged, however, that taxation remains a sovereign decision of governments, underscoring the role of policymakers in determining how different products are regulated and priced.
PMFTC corporate affairs senior director Chita Herce said collaboration among stakeholders would be critical in translating scientific advances into practical outcomes.
“Science can open new possibilities. But we turn innovation into progress only when we work together,” she said.
The company’s push comes as the Philippines continues to grapple with a large adult smoking population, while debates over access, regulation and the public-health implications of alternative nicotine products remain ongoing.
