Bill on cigarette price pushed

Local cigarette maker Mighty Corp. pledged an all-out support for a bill proposing to put a minimum price for cigarettes, saying the measure will rationalize the Philippine tobacco industry and help prevent price undercutting by big industry players.

The Bulacan-based firm is referring to House Bill 5013 that sets a minimum cigarette price (MCP) of P38 per pack starting January 2015, P44 by 2016, and P51 by 2017 to deny the youth access to cigarettes and support the health advocacy of the excise tax reform law.