A regional judge has allowed tobacco firms to advertise their products on outdoor billboards as long as the sign is within the store premises.

The case stemmed from Fortune Tobacco’s petition seeking declaratory relief on the wording of Sec. 22 of the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. Together with Philip Morris, Japan Tobacco, La Suerte and Mighty Corp., the company had contended that the law still allows outdoor ads within the premises of point-of-sale retail establishments, which means that the retail establishment's entire structure and tract of land can accommodate tobacco ads. The provision states that "no leaflets, posters and similar materials may be posted, except inside the premises of point-of-sale retail establishments."
With the judge's decision, the tobacco firms' outdoor advertisements, along with posters and leaflets, are now exempted from the ad ban imposed by the law.
The Department of Health and other advocacy groups, meanwhile, expressed disappointment over the ruling and vowed to appeal it before the Supreme Court. (pi)