LOOK: Sin tax advocates urge passage of proposed tobacco tax hike

Members of the Sin Tax coalition demonstrate outside the Senate building in Pasay on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, urging senators to pass the proposed hike in tobacco taxes. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — Sin tax advocates on Monday trooped to the Senate complex in Pasay City to call on senators to pass the bill seeking to increase the excise tax on tobacco products.

The Sin Tax coalition, composed of civil society groups, doctors, nurses, health advocates, held the rally as the Senate committee on ways and means tackled proposed measures to hike the tobacco excise tax.

The group pushed for a P90-increase per pack of cigarettes to fund the Universal Health Care bill.

Senator Manny Pacquiao earlier filed Senate Bill 1599 seeking to raise cigarette excise tax to P60 per pack.

READ: Raising tobacco tax to help fund universal health care – Pacquiao

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also filed a bill proposing to increase the tobacco excise tax to P70 per pack while Senator JV Ejercito said a P90-increase per pack should be imposed. /cbb

A member of the Sin Tax coalition shows her discontent over cigarette smoke during a rally at the Senate on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG MONTEGRANDE

Members of the Sin Tax coalition urge senators on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, to increase the tax on tobacco to P90. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG MONTEGRANDE

A member of the Sin Tax coalition seeks an increase in taxes on tobacco on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, to fund the Universal Health Care Act. PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER / GRIG MONTEGRANDE