IQOSstores open in Metro Manila
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO--Philip Morris International opened today its first four IQOS stores in Metro Manila offering Filipino adult smokers 21 years old and above a smoke-free alternative to cigarettes.
Located at the Eastwood Mall in Libis, Quezon City, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City, SM Southmall in Las Piñas City, and Estancia Mall in Pasig City, the stores carry IQOS devices, heat sticks and accessories.
IQOS devices use a patented heat-control technology that precisely heats tobacco-filled sticks wrapped in paper, without the burning, to release a water-based aerosol not smoke.
Opening the first IQOS stores in the Philippines is a significant step towards achieving our vision of a smokefree future. PMFTCs vision is to help adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke to move away from cigarettes as quickly as possible and switch to a better alternative, PMFTCs President said Denis Gorkun, President PMFTC Inc., the local affiliate of PMI.
We see smoke-free products as an opportunity to reduce the smoking incidence in the Philippines for the benefit of the public health and society at large, Gorkun sai d.
There are an estimated 16 million smokers in the Philippines, and globally, despite strict tobacco control measures, the World Health Organization estimates that there will still be a billion smokers in 2025, the same level as today.
PMI invested more than USD$7 billion on research, development and production capabilities to create smoke-free products.
Recently, the United States Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of IQOS and heat sticks in the US with a reduced exposure claim, adding that its issuance of such order is appropriate for the promotion of public health. IQOSisthefirst heated tobacco product to receive that exposure modification order in the US.
“The US FDA decision shows that IQOS is a fundamentally different tobacco product compared to cigarettes and a better choice for adults who would otherwise continue smoking, said Gorkun.
To ensure that only legal age consumers 21 years old and above will have access to the store, the e-commerce website and the tobacco products, Gorkun said, We are implementing age verification and access restriction. Presentation of a valid governmentissued ID is required before any product is handed over to the
donati ons.
Shean, who is now in sixth grade, was also about to lose hope until their football coach announced that their team will be receiving materials for schooling and sports equipment.
“I really didn’t want to go to school because I didn’t have any notebooks or pencils and my uniform was already worn out. But now that I have these, I don’t see any reason to skip school anymore when it reopens”, Shean said.
In 2018, WFI inked a memorandum of agreement with JCI wherein P.5M was given for the funding of the first AETA Kids Football Cup alongside providing school supplies, football equipment, trainings and other essentials for the program.
Widus Foundation, Inc. (WFI) is a non-stock, non-profit organization established on June 16, 2017 as the corporate social responsibility and social development arm of Widus Hotel and Casino. It was established to have a more committed, efficient and regular way of helping the community through education, health and disaster response.