Congressional bets urged to strengthen tobacco control law

BAGUIO CITY— An advocacy group on Friday called on congressional candidates in the May 13 mid-term election to strengthen tobacco control policies in the country once they are elected to Congress.

"There are some things that needed to be fixed in to our National Tobacco Regulation law or the Republic Act 9211 because it became weaker than the WHO-FCTC (World Health- Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control)," said Au Quilala, Philippine Legislators' Committee on Population and Development (PLCPD) advocacy manager, during a media briefing at the launch of iChange campaign.

Republic Act 9211 also known as the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003 regulates smoking in public places, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, and sales restrictions.

On the other hand, the WHO-FCTC is an evidence-based treaty that reaffirms the right of all people to the highest standard of health.

Quilala said the iChange campaign calls on the 2019 candidates to support moves to amend the tobacco regulation law, specifically to expand the definition of places where smoking is banned and to raise the minimum age for people allowed to buy and use cigarettes from 18 to 25 years.

"We hope that we all vote wisely thinking about our daily lives, thinking of our health. Together with these proposals, we hope that we will consider the candidates who put primary considerations about our health," Quilala said.

The group also called on the government for the strict regulation or banning of the use of electronic cigarettes or "vapes".

A survey conducted by Pulse Asia from January 26 to 31, 2019 revealed that nine out of the 10 adult Filipinos agree that smoking or the use of cigarettes in public places should be prohibited and nine out of 10 adult Filipinos also agree to raise the minimum age for buying and using cigarettes from 18 to 25 years old.

Another survey conducted by Pulse Asia from March 23 to 27, 2019 also showed that 75 percent of adult Filipinos are in favor of increasing tax on cigarettes.

Seven out of 10 adult Filipinos would support candidates who are in favor of legislative measures to increase the tax on cigarettes, the survey showed. (With reports from Hasreel Sandee Gano, OJT/PNA)

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1068314

ABS-CBN steps up digital initiatives amid threats to broadcast business

Media giant ABS-CBN Corp. is accelerating spending across a range of digital initiatives to secure a future still threatened by fast-changing industry dynamics and national politics.

New developments such as the relaunch of the iWant app—its response to internet TV giant Netflix—and a move to create movies and shows for non-Filipino viewers abroad were some of the products highlighted by company president and CEO Carlo Katigbak during ABS-CBN’s annual meeting on Thursday.

More than reaching new markets, such business lines are outside the scope of ABS-CBN’s broadcasting franchise, whose renewal President Duterte vowed to block when it expires on March 30, 2020.

“It is clearly an uncertain time in ABS-CBN,” Katigbak told shareholders. “We are faced with threats from many directions: changing consumer habits, disruptive technologies, political headwinds and new competition.”

He said the company’s application before Congress remained pending. ABS-CBN will refile its papers under the new Congress to be established after the elections next month.

Katigbak said ABS-CBN, which still relied on TV advertising for about half of its P40 billion in revenue last year, expected a “full recovery” in 2019, partly driven by political ad spending.

The company’s net income last year dropped by almost 40 percent to P1.91 billion as TV advertising slowed.

Rolando Valdueza, ABS-CBN group chief financial officer, said the marching orders were for the company to increase spending in digital.

“The capex [capital spending] starting this year and the next five years will mostly be for digital and broadband,” he said. In the same respect, ABS-CBN chief financial officer Aldrin Cerrado said the goal was to increase digital’s contributions, which accounted for 13 percent of revenue last year.

Company officials pointed to the steady growth of iWant, which had about two million active users, and the adaptation of its popular TV shows in Turkey and Indonesia as early signs of success.

ABS-CBN, which also owns Skycable and the KidZania theme park in Bonifacio Global City, has embarked on a series of acquisitions to support its retail segment. It invested in subsidiary The Chosen Bun Inc. to expand its food and beverage business apart from ventures sealed with cosmetics giant Ever Biliena and IBayad Online Ventures for an e-wallet service.

https://business.inquirer.net/269218/abs-cbn-steps-up-digital-initiatives-amid-threats-to-broadcast-business