A NEW Economic Impact Report (EIR), produced by the Oxford Business Group (OBG), evaluates the role of the Philippine tobacco industry as an employer and public sector revenue provider, while also analyzing the challenges that producers and regulators face.
Titled “Tobacco in the Philippines,” the publication evaluates the socio-economic importance of the industry in an easy-to-navigate and accessible format that includes key data and infographics.
It highlights the wide-reaching nature of the tobacco industry’s value chain, which extends well beyond the archipelago’s numerous farming communities to include segments of manufacturing and retail – with a standout contribution to informal employment.
The delicate balancing act legislators face in using revenue collections from the tobacco and alcohol industries – so-called “sin taxes” – to fund the public health system, while also promoting personal well-being and freedom of choice, is examined in detail.
In this section, the report outlines the reinvestment of industry revenues into tobacco-producing communities through local government units. It also explores concerns that further tobacco tax increases could reduce affordability for consumers, thereby triggering both a possible rise in illicit trade and lower public sector collections.
Other topics include the emergent opportunities presented by the vaping market – although regulatory uncertainty, among other hurdles, remains a barrier to growth.
The EIR on the Philippine tobacco industry forms part of a series of tailored reports that OBG is currently producing with its partners, alongside other highly relevant, go-to research tools, including ESG and Future Readiness reports, country-specific Growth and Recovery Outlook articles and interviews.
The report is now available to view and download at https://oxfordbusinessgroup.com/news/report-exploring-socio-economic-importance-tobacco-philippines.