Philip Morris doubles tobacco purchase to 5.2-M kilos

Tobacco growers from Northern Luzon have bounced back from disastrous flooding brought about by the La Niña phenomenon in 2005, and as a testament to their recovery, a top cigarette manufacturer has more than doubled its crop purchase in 2007.

Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing Inc. (PMPMI), makers of the top-selling Marlboro and Philip Morris brands, bought a combined 5.2 million kilos of Virginia and Burley tobacco in 2007, more than twice the 2.4 million kilos the company bought in 2005.

PMPMI managing director Chris Nelson congratulated local tobacco farmers for their resiliency, determination and commitment to crop as he expressed confidence to a brighter future ahead for the growers.

Nelson assured the farmers that PMPMI will purchase all their harvest that meet the international standard of tobacco that goes into their world-class cigarettes.

Moreover, with world prices for Burley tobacco going up, Nelson said if this year’s crop turns in good quality harvest, Philip Morris will again facilitate the export of local Burley tobacco to its affiliates abroad.

Prior to the 2005 flooding, Philip Morris affiliates in Asia and Europe bought home-grown Burley tobacco from Isabela province which has been known to grow world-class Burley.

“Tobacco farmers ,especially those who grow Burley can really look to a brighter future with their crop commanding good prices here and abroad,” Nelson said. 

In 2003, when PMPMI opened its $300-million, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Tanauan City, Batangas, the company bought about 3.1 million kilos of tobacco leaf from the farmers.

But its purchase dipped to 2.4 million kilos in 2005, when unusual heavy rains flooded farmlands and destroyed thousands of pesos worth of crops, including tobacco.

“Farmers in these areas have basically lost their only means of income or sustenance during that time,” Nelson said. “This was clearly a disaster for us but even more to the farmers and their families whom we have worked and assisted for more than 20 years.”

PMPMI then allocated P4.1 million in relief and rehabilitation assistance to all the affected tobacco farmers. This is aside from the assistance the farmers got from tobacco leaf supplier Universal Leaf Philippines Inc. in terms of making the farmers’ land productive again.

“In times of disasters or calamities, Philip Morris is even more committed to help our partner farmers. We aim to help the farmers and their families get back on their feet and resume their tobacco growing livelihood as soon as possible,” Nelson said.