Quezon city: Farmers from tobacco-producing provinces in the Ilocos Region on Tuesday took part in a two-day conference in Quezon City to negotiate tobacco floor prices for the next two cropping seasons.

According to Philippines News Agency, during the 2025 Tripartite Consultative Conference organized by the National Tobacco Administration (NTA), Bernard Vicente, president of the National Federation of Tobacco Farmers Association and Cooperatives (NAFTAC), sought an PHP16.96 to PHP87.15 per kilo increase in the floor prices of various classes of Virginia, Burley, and Native-Batek tobacco. He also appealed for a separate floor price for the improved sub-types of Virginia and Burley tobacco leaf, considering its higher quality compared to the traditional types, and its higher cost of production.

"This is to encourage more farmers to produce more improved types of tobacco to help the tobacco farmers increase their income, as well as to improve the quality of the country's tobacco," Vicente said in an interview. He thanked the NTA for organizing the tripartite conference, noting that it provides an opportunity to present their requests to traders and cigarette manufacturers.

NTA administrator Belinda Sanchez stated that the tobacco tripartite conference is part of the agency's commitment to transparency and dedication to strengthening the tobacco industry. Through this process, the NTA aims to protect the welfare of tobacco farmers while ensuring that group consultations and deliberations lead to a well-founded recommendation for a reasonable increase in tobacco floor prices.

Under Presidential Decree No. 627, PD No. 1481 (for Virginia), and PD No. 1143 as amended (for Burley), the NTA is authorized to set or fix tobacco floor prices through a tripartite consultative conference led by its regulation department. Currently, about 2.2 million Filipinos, including over 430,000 farmers, farm workers, and their family members, are financially dependent on tobacco, primarily in the Ilocos Region.