Senators urged to pass sin tax law before 17th Congress adjourns

Health advocates call on the Senate to pass the tax hike on tobacco products before the 17th Congress adjourns. PHOTO BY DAPHNE GALVEZ/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Health advocates and anti-tobacco groups urged senators on Monday to pass the proposed measure seeking to raise excise tax on tobacco products.

Representatives from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) trooped to the Senate to issue this call a day before the 17th Congress adjourns.

“We join the health advocates from different sectors in pushing the Senate to vote in favor of this much-needed reform before the 17th Congress,” PMA president Dr. Jose Santiago said.

“Our legislators now have an opportunity to pass a measure that would prevent more Filipinos from getting sick because of cigarette use. I hope that this fact is not lost on senators,” he added.

Senators are set to vote on the Senate Bill No. 2233 on Monday. The measure proposes to increase tax on cigarettes to P45 per pack in 2020, P50 in 2021, P55 in 2022 and P60 in 2023, with five percent annual increases thereafter.

Health advocates call on the Senate to pass the tax hike on tobacco products before the 17th Congress adjourns. PHOTO BY DAPHNE GALVEZ/INQUIRER.net

Meanwhile, PCP president Dr. Maria Gina Nazareth insisted that voting in favor of the bill is a “vote in favor of the health of the Filipino people.”

She pointed out that seventeen persons are killed every hour by tobacco-related diseases, and these are not just those who smoke tobacco but also those who are exposed to secondhand smoke.

“We hope our senators are with us in choosing better health and a better future for our countrymen by voting in support of this measure,” Nazareth said.

Last Monday, Senator Sonny Angara endorsed on the plenary floor the said measure. In his sponsorship speech, the senator said the bill is aimed at reducing smoking prevalence among Filipinos as well as raise funding for the government’s Universal Health Care (UHC) program.

READ: Tobacco tax hike bill endorsed for plenary approval

President Rodrigo Duterte earlier certified SB 2233 as an urgent measure. (Editor: Julie Espinosa)

READ: Duterte certifies as urgent bill on higher tobacco excise tax

Health advocates call on the Senate to pass the tax hike on tobacco products before the 17th Congress adjourns. PHOTO BY DAPHNE GALVEZ/INQUIRER.net