[Intl-tobacco] Philippines: PM to end TV, radio ads

[Robert Weissman]

Philip Morris to Stop Placing TV, Radio Ads in Philippines - Bloomberg
News
December 13, 2001

Philip Morris Cos., the largest tobacco company, will stop advertising
cigarettes in TV and radio in the Philippines, starting next month, as
part
of a drive to cut down on youth smoking in Asia's second-largest tobacco

market. The move is part of an agreement with rivals British American
Tobacco and Japan Tobacco Inc. to start applying international marketing

standards restricting tobacco marketing and sales practices in local
markets. ``We are pulling out all our brand advertisements in electronic

media,'' Dave Gomez, public affairs manager at Philip Morris' Philippine

unit, said in an interview. ``We'll be limiting our marketing campaign
only
to adult consumers and limit our exposure to children.''...

Filipinos are the heaviest smokers in Asia after Indonesians, inhaling
from
about 20 billion cigarettes a year. The Philip Morris and Marlboro brand

names account for about 28 percent of the market. Philip Morris' move
comes
as Congress considers legislation to regulate the marketing and
advertising
of tobacco products in a nation of 78 million people. Gomez said Philip
Morris will still place TV and radio ads for six months to discourage
children from smoking. It will also limit print ads to adult-oriented
publications, he said.