Phillipines: Tobacco Farmers Laud DA for Opposing FCTC

Source from:  The Manila Times  11/14/2012

Tobacco farmers lauded Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala for protecting their welfare and livelihood by opposing the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) that seeks to ban tobacco farming.

"We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Secretary Alcala for opposing the proposals by FCTC to ban tobacco farming. By doing so, Secretary Alcala has saved the livelihood of thousands of Filipino tobacco farmers. We would like to congratulate him for protecting our welfare," said Asuncion Lopez, spokesman of the Philippine Tobacco Growers Association.

The Fifth Conference of Parties (COP5) meeting of the WHO FCTC, which is being held in Seoul, South Korea, will discuss proposals to ban tobacco farming, abolish government offices that promote tobacco farming like the Philippines' National Tobacco Administration, cut-off technical and financial assistance to tobacco farmers, limit the existing land area dedicated for tobacco farming, and limit the planting season for tobacco. During the COP5 meeting, each country is allowed to state its official country position on the abovementioned proposals.

The Department of Agriculture (DA), as lead agency and head of delegation tasked to provide inputs and comments on the issue, has submitted to the FCTC the official Philippine position opposing the proposals.

"An important issue clarified to all participants was that the WHO Framework Convention does not aim to phase out tobacco growing. Alternatives to tobacco crops are only explored in preparation of an eventual decrease in demand caused by tobacco control. Upon review, we noticed that the draft guidelines on Articles 17 and 18 have shifted the focus away from the abovementioned intent towards a strategy / policy aimed at wiping out tobacco farming. The Philippines is of the view that this should not be the case," the DA position paper said.

It pointed out that "instead of aiming to forcibly eliminate tobacco farming, when there is high demand for the said crop, governments should identify viable crop alternatives that can contribute to improve the income and overall quality of life of tobacco farmers."

Alcala has reassured tobacco farmers that he will protect their livelihood despite efforts by some sectors to reduce cigarette consumption. The government believes that farmers "should be free to make their own decisions on what crops to grow and sell."

Lopez said that it is unfair and illegal to cut off all government and private sector support for tobacco farmers.

"Tobacco farmers cannot survive without government and private sector support. The FCTC is singling out tobacco farmers and our government should not allow this injustice to happen," she added.

Earlier, Sen. Ralph Recto and Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile revealed the presence of anti-tobacco lobby in the Philippines.

Mendiola rally

Meanwhile, members of the Peoples Coalition Against Regressive Taxation (PCART) on Tuesday stormed Mendiola to call on President Benigno Aquino 3rd to stop the plan to implement higher taxes on tobacco products.

PCART members also sought to stop the passage of the sin tax reform bill that is being deliberated upon in the Senate. PCART is an alliance of workers, farmers and street vendors.

The group said that The president is pushing for the passage of a measure that will displaced thousands of workers, when he should be working to elevate the plight of small workers. Enditem